Danilo opens up on 'hurtful' episode under Russell Martin at Rangers

Rohl marked his debut in the Ibrox dugout with a much-needed win as Rangers recorded only their second Premiership triumph of the campaign. The result leaves Rohl’s side 13 points behind leaders Hearts, but Celtic are now just five in front of their Old Firm counterparts on the eve of the trip to face Hibernian on Wednesday night.

Derek Cornelius opened the scoring inside 15 minutes, but Stuart Kettlewell’s side were level at the break after George Stanger capitalised on a howler from Jack Butland and netted before the break. Danilo restored the advantage with a header and Youssef Chermiti made sure of the points on an afternoon where Rangers could have won by a greater margin.

Read more:

• Danny Rohl explains why he moved to a back three, why he is happy to ditch Plan A
• Tactical tweaks, Rohl's big calls and Chermiti opens account as Rangers beat Killie

The neat finish from a Jayden Meghoma cross was Danilo’s second goal of what has been a frustrating campaign for the Brazilian. The final weeks of Russell Martin’s tenure offered him few chances to impress but Rohl showed his faith after putting him in from the start and then switching him to a central role after the interval.

"Yeah, it was really good,” Danilo said as he reflected on the 3-1 victory. "Overall, really happy to be back to playing and helping my team-mates, that's what I'm here for. So it's good turnaround and then ready for the next game.

“100 per cent, a goal always lifts you up. Nobody sees the hard work you do behind the scenes and I was waiting for this opportunity for a long time.

"I was counting in the days when I was not in the squad. So then I've just put in hard work and then make my mentality strong as well for whenever it would happen, I would be ready. And then it showed on Sunday that my head is clear and obviously with the goal, it make you even more happy as well.

"Obviously when a new manager comes, you always want to help and want to be playing. And then obviously with the previous manager, he started playing me and then not being part of it, so obviously it's hurtful and then it's difficult because you're there to help.

"But this is the past. Danny took the role and it's been good. He's talking and then wants to improve everyone, and then obviously it starts from the zero. And then that's the moment for you to show yourself again, and then show that you're ready to play and help him."

Rangers went into the Ibrox fixture on the back of a dreadful defeat in Bergen as Rohl’s first match in charge gave him plenty to think about. The German responded in the right manner and then saw his side produce an accomplished performance in front of a heartened home support.

Rohl switched to a back three as Danilo returned in attack alongside Bojan Miovski. The North Macedonian was withdrawn at the break as Mikey Moore was introduced and Chermiti opened his account for the club after also stepping off the bench in the closing stages.

Rohl reaffirmed his stance post-match that he will not stick to a single tactical blueprint as boss. And Danilo has been encouraged by the first days of the new regime as attentions turn to the fixture with Hibs and next weekend’s Old Firm showdown at Hampden.

"I think his ideas, he's really clear that we need to press,” Danilo said. "He wants consistency as well on the way of playing and winning games and then obviously hard work, and then I think that's been good.

"So then for us, we want to build up this consistency and then hopefully we can continue gradually, improving, much, much more. I think it depends with kind of opponents you play against.

"I think you can threaten a lot when they opponents see there's two strikers. I like to play around that I don't need to stick as well, just like holding balls up. I always like to move around.

“So it was a good opportunity for me to be and then travelling around and be more of a 10, but sometimes change with Gassama. But then obviously, when it change it then to a number nine, it is the same thing. I always just like to be around to not be stick as a number nine.

"So for me, it's no preference, obviously whatever the manager asks you to do, you will play and then obviously you're happy to do what he's asking for. So even if he say play as a defender, I  would like to just play.”