Barron: Accusations we can't handle Ibrox heat are wide of the mark

THEY survived hell in Istanbul without being burned - and Connor Barron insists Rangers are ready to handle the heat at home too and blaze a trail into the Europa League quarter-finals.

- Fraser Wilson

The backdrop to tonight's blockbuster tie with Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce is as explosive a mix of fortunes as you could imagine.

While last Thursday's sensational 3-1 victory in the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium cauldron was as impressive as it was unexpected, it's now cranked up the expectation on Barry Ferguson's squad to finish the job at Ibrox.

And it goes without saying that their last three outings on home turf suggest that red-hot pressure might not be to everyone in Ferguson's squad's liking.

Defeats to Motherwell, St Mirren and Queen's Park have turned Ibrox from a fortress into something more akin to a feeding ground for hungry domestic rivals.

It sees the current squad on the brink of making unwanted history as the first Rangers side to lose four home games on the trot ever.

Ferguson said himself after last week's win in Turkey that playing at Ibrox has become a bit of a problem lately.