Jelavic says team spirit is reason for success on the road

Rangers have won all six of their SPL games on the road this season without conceding a goal.

Adding in the end of last season takes the tally to 13 straight victories away from home with the loss of just one goal, which came in their title-clinching 5-1 victory over Kilmarnock in May. The latest win came at Tynecastle at the weekend, where Hearts had won four consecutive SPL games without conceding a goal.

Jelavic, who netted a brilliant second goal in the visitors’ 2-0 win, feels their new central defensive partnership of Carlos Bocanegra and Dorin Goian has been instrumental in this season’s run, with Allan McGregor coming to the rescue when the back line is breached.

Jelavic, whose team face Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Saturday, told Blues News: “Hearts is always a hard place to go and take three points, but we showed team spirit and character. Now we need to look forward to Aberdeen.

“It’s always nice to win games, especially when you’re not conceding goals. The whole team showed that we are like a family. We stick together, especially in central defence with Carlos and Dorin. They are fantastic players and Greegsy has saved us many times.”

Jelavic shook off a bug that had stopped him training for several days before Sunday’s Tynecastle clash. The Croatian then came off the bench to score with his first touch, a brilliant cushioned volley following Bocanegra’s 50-yard pass over the top.

Jelavic said: “I took a first touch and scored. Easy. Simple! It was a great ball from Carlos. At first I thought maybe I could control the ball and then I thought: ‘I’m too deep.’

“It’s not easy, but I decided to take one touch. I had a lot of time because the defender was behind me.

“I concentrated on the ball and it was brilliant.”