Rangers boss Steven Gerrard believes his men have learned from the pain of Paisley cup shocker

Steven Gerrard on the touchline during the defeat to St Mirren

Steven Gerrard will never be a man that takes any pleasure in defeat.

He spent 17 years fighting tooth and nail to win honours as a Liverpool player.

That same thirst for success has transferred seamlessly into his managerial career with Rangers.

It meant watching his team being knocked out of the League Cup by St Mirren – their only defeat this season – was a painful experience. But it’s one he feels they have learned from.

Gerrard maintains his players are putting their bodies on the line to bring trophies back to Ibrox.

They take on Aberdeen at Pittodrie this afternoon as they look to maintain an unbeaten league record and create a 22-point gap between themselves and Celtic.

The Dons will have to score against the Ibrox men for the first time this term if they’re to claim a memorable victory.

Gerrard’s team have only conceded five times in the Premiership – four of those were away from home, with two in a draw at Hibs. The others were consolations for Dundee United and Motherwell.

Maintaining a miserly defensive record is never easy.

Conceding three in that cup upset in Paisley has been the only blip in the Light Blues’ campaign.

The Rangers manager believes that night has been used in a positive manner.

Gerrard said: “We had that off-night at St Mirren which was a bit of a blow to us. But sometimes you need a setback or a wobble to reset.

“I think we have done since that point. We need to continue from that.

“In regards to our defending, having the players for a few seasons certainly helps in terms of getting them used to our organisation and how we want to play. What we demand out of possession in terms of the speed of covering the grass.

“Everyone is well-drilled, and everyone knows what they need to do in their role.

“I have got to give them immense credit for putting their bodies on the line, and the application they put into their training and preparation.

“It helps having two top-class goalkeepers behind that defensive structure, and I think everyone has really bought into what we need to do when we turn the ball over or are not in possession.

“That has basically been the base for us to go and attack well from.”

Rangers began this season with a 1-0 win at Aberdeen, and Gerrard looks back on that day with some satisfaction.

It wasn’t a swashbuckling performance, but it set the tone for what has been a hugely-impressive league campaign.

He said: “The first fixture at Pittodrie was a real tough one for us when they came out.

“It was a challenge for us to go up there for the first away game of the season, up against a good coach, who has his team well-drilled.

“The rivalry goes without saying but it was different going up to Pittodrie. It was a lot calmer in terms of the atmosphere.

“To play in an empty stadium is different.

“It’s still going to be a tough game but we’re looking forward to the challenge this time. They will have players back, they are in a decent period of form themselves, so it should be a fantastic match for everyone on the outside.

“For me, the challenge is to get the three points and try to find the best performance from Rangers.”

St Mirren Manager Jim Goodwin celebrates his side’s late win

Gerrard enjoyed having gone through a midweek without a game to play.

The domestic schedule combined with a Europa League campaign has given Rangers very little time to play full-size practice matches.

Mostly, it’s been a case of recovering from previous exertions, and keeping players ticking over for the next fixture.

Games of 11 v 11 took place at the Rangers training ground last week, and Gerrard emphasises that his mind is totally on football.

There’s been talk of squad members like Allan McGregor and Glen Kamara being handed new contracts.

Gerrard will have the final say on that. But he won’t let it distract him from keeping a winning team on the park.

He said: “We are in a situation where the challenges are coming thick and fast. So the focus for the players and myself has to be football and what happens on the pitch.

“Everything else will take care of itself at the right time.

“We don’t just take a look at a free week in the schedule and think all of a sudden: ‘Oh, we’ve got to get contracts done and dusted’.

“At the right time, those things will happen.

“We have people in the background that are having conversations with players’ representatives.

“But the focus is all football here right now.”