A FESTIVE Old Firm match is always regarded as one of the biggest matches of the year, but the harsh truth for Rangers right now is that Saturday’s meeting with Celtic might not even be the biggest one of the week.

From the heady euphoria of three straight wins, the Ibrox side are suddenly simply desperate to avoid three straight defeats, with a visit to Celtic Park still to come. Playing in front of their own fans, the Ibrox side and their newly installed permanent manager Graeme Murty have rarely required a morale-boosting victory as much as they do against Motherwell this evening.

The Fir Park side’s designs on being the best of the rest might have faded since talisman Louis Moult went down injured but, having strong-armed Rangers out of the Betfred Cup semi-finals, Stephen Robinson’s side have it in their power to add to what has been a blue Christmas thus far down Ibrox way and Jason Holt is well aware of what is at stake.

“The Motherwell game is the one,” said Holt. “It is huge. You can’t lose three games in a row at Rangers. The players need to look at themselves. We need to take full responsibility as we are the only ones that can change it.

“So we need a reaction, simple as that. We need to win that game — we need to show we can stand up to any challenge.”

The modern football player is often castigated for not caring enough about the jersey but this festive period will have been tough to take for Rangers stars whose professional pride has been battered.

“It isn’t always plain sailing in football and these are tough times,” admits Holt. “It is difficult. You go home and start to over-think. You are scunnered by the game and the result. I’m just desperate to win games for this club. When you don’t, it hurts.”

Holt has proved a more reliable option than many since arriving from Hearts in 2015 but this is a Rangers side that feels down to the bare bones.

With Graham Dorrans on the long-term injured list, Ryan Jack suspended and Carlos Pena clearly not trusted for the hurly burly of Scottish play, they have been particularly stretched in midfield — which was clear as Kilmarnock’s midfield three of Youssouf Mulumbu, Alan Power and Gary Dicker out-passed them at Rugby Park on Saturday.

There has been talk of the likes of Andy Halliday or Michael O’Halloran returning from loans and Holt feels the squad could do with some assistance. At least Bruno Alves should be available after taking a knock on Saturday.

“We could do with adding a few players,” Holt said. “We need a few bodies in different areas of the pitch but that is not for me to decide. We have big players missing through injury and suspension. If we can get them all back it would help us.”

Tonight, Murty will come up against the side who really triggered the end of his predecessor’s time at Ibrox, as October’s Betfred Cup loss ended Pedro Caixinha’s reign.

Motherwell go to Ibrox without Moult, Chris Cadden and Elliott Frear through injury, but hopes remain high.

Well’s Ryan Bowman said: “We feel like we can go there and win.

“We’ve beaten them already so there’s nothing to say we can’t

do it again.”