Cammy Devlin has expressed deep regret over the red card that led to his suspension in Rangers' recent Conference League playoff defeat against Jablonec. The midfielder acknowledged that his ill-advised challenge in the first leg resulted in an automatic ban, leaving him unable to influence the outcome of the second leg in the Czech Republic.
"I hate letting my team down and felt that was something I did there," Devlin stated. "I was absolutely devastated. People have seen me play for long enough now, I wear my heart on my sleeve."
The Australian international was sent off just five minutes after coming on as a substitute in the home leg for a challenge on Jiri Slama. Rangers went on to lose the tie, marking their exit from another European competition early in the season. The team's performance over the two legs was widely criticized, with some questioning the side's style of play.
Devlin recognized the validity of the criticism, stating, "The criticism is deserved – you play for Rangers and got knocked out of Europe. Criticism is part of it. It's part of playing here and it wasn't good enough."
Despite the European disappointment, Rangers secured a 1-0 victory against Aberdeen on Sunday, with Lawrence Shankland scoring the decisive penalty. Devlin noted a shift in the team's approach, highlighting an increase in energy and desire that was evident in the attritional contest. He believes blunt conversations held after the Jablonec match served a purpose.
"In the tough moments, if you go into your shell after things like Thursday, you can't allow that to happen," Devlin explained. "It's not easy, you're so down, but we had come together and had good conversations. We had a few days in Aberdeen to come together, talk to each other – it was really important and so good to show that camaraderie."
He emphasized the importance of grit and determination, especially when representing a club like Rangers. "Any successful team at Rangers over the years, winning trophies, I'm sure it was done by doing the other side of the game too. It's not just about playing unreal football, which every team wants to do. On Sunday, we showed grit and determination, boys doing that extra bit to help their mate."
The recent win against Aberdeen offered a glimpse of what manager Derek McInnes aims to build. Kim Minsu made an impactful debut, adding imagination and pace to the side. However, Devlin cautioned against complacency, noting that it was just one positive result in a season that has seen its share of difficulties.
Rangers are scheduled to play Falkirk on Wednesday. Devlin concluded by reinforcing the need to maintain focus: "The dig and determination to grind out a 1-0 win is as good as they come. It was important to do it. Everyone knows how disappointing Europe was. So, many fans travelled to see that happen. But we keep our feet on the ground. It's one win and we look forward to Wednesday now. We have another tough game. So, we have to keep going."