THE well-used managerial adage about not getting too high when you win and not getting too low when you lose has never really been applicable to life at Rangers.
Ryan Jack has seen both sides of the coin often enough. When times are good, they are great. But when they are tough, Ibrox can be an unforgiving place.
There was a modicum of optimism around in the immediate aftermath of the defeat to Napoli on Wednesday evening. The search for positives will continue, but the facts speak for themselves.
It was a different kind of loss against the Serie A giants. It wasn't as demoralising and deplorable as the ones suffered against Celtic and Ajax but it was another blow to Giovanni van Bronckhorst and a team that find themselves under increasing pressure.
Three defeats on the spin, with eleven goals conceded and none scored, is a record that should shame Rangers and Jack knows as well as anyone that it cannot be tolerated this term.
"I have been here for a number of years now and through tough times and tough results," Jack said. "There is always a drama when you lose two on the bounce and three on the bounce.
"It is unheard of for us and as players you have to front it up and take that responsibility. You don’t get the time to feel sorry for yourself or feel down, you have got to analyse what has gone wrong and go and put it right on the pitch. You see that is what these fans and this club demands so the players have to meet that demand.
"I think it is not just the new boys. For us, last season we went on that run in the Europa League and we won the Scottish Cup at the end of the season. Maybe you think everything is good and well.
"Then you have a couple of bad results and it knocks you back in your place and sets you back to basics if you have got carried away or lost your way a bit.
"For us as players, we had to front it up, the responsibility is on us and when we go on the pitch we have to answer that."
There were signs of encouragement during spells at Ibrox as Rangers at least showed more organisation and spirit than they had done during their previous two outings. The chances that were created were not taken, though.
Recent days have been a time of soul searching for Van Bronckhorst's squad. The mistakes can, after all, only be rectified once they have been identified.
Jack said: "It felt like, as players on the pitch, we were right in the game and we were more than matching them for large spells of the game. They are top opposition, we know that, but I don’t think we really gave them the time and the space to cut through us.
"They are a top team and I have said before that if you give people half a chance they will take it. It is important that when we get those chances and half chances that we start taking them.
"We have obviously had meetings back at the training ground. The last two results haven’t been good enough and we have all had to look in the mirror, myself included.
"Wednesday night was an opportunity for us in front of our fans to go and get a positive result. We haven’t managed to do that but I think it was clear to see that everyone was giving their all and ran ourselves into the ground.
"Hopefully going forward that is the benchmark for us as a squad and as a team when everyone on the pitch can empty the tank. When you do that, more often than not you will get the result."
Before the defeat to Ajax last week, Van Bronckhorst offered a passionate defence of his signings and his squad. Ahead of the visit of Luciano Spalletti's side, he spoke about sticking to his principles and keeping belief in his philosophy.
The Dutchman didn't get the result that he needed at Ibrox. Until the dismissal of James Sands that changed the course of the game, there were aspects of the performance that were pleasing at least.
Jack said: "I think the shackles were off us and what we worked on in training and how we wanted it to look is how we executed it on the pitch.
"I think maybe the last two performances, what we have worked on and then what we as players have taken onto the pitch has not looked the same.
"What we worked on in the last two or three days in training, how it looked on the pitch is exactly how we worked it. Pressing high, getting after them, not giving them time and getting in their faces.
"For large spells it worked. Obviously you come away 3-0, you are gutted and on a downer but there are positives to take for Saturday and going forward in the group."
The visit of Dundee United this weekend will be followed by the international break. After it, the trip to Hearts could be defining and the double-header with Liverpool will loom large.
Through difficult moments on the park and off it, Jack has always retained a drive and a sense of perspective. Those qualities will help him, and Rangers, through their current individual and collective struggles right now.
"I have always said that there are dark times in football and tough times in football," Jack said. "It is part and parcel of the game.
"Look, it is hard right now to take in and take any sort of satisfaction. We have played two games and lost 4-0 and 3-0 so, right now, you are on a downer and it is hard to see any positives.
"But when we look back and analyse that 60 minutes, there will be positives to take. With the double header against Liverpool coming up, we can use that as our benchmark as what we need going forward."
