Rangers star Ryan Kent admits "we let ourselves down" after the winter break last season, as he analyses his own areas for improvement.
Steven Gerrard 's side won at Celtic Park for the first time in almost a decade in December to move two points behind the champions with a game in hand.
After the break though they fell apart, losing to Kilmarnock and Hamilton while drawing with Aberdeen and St Johnstone.
That allowed Celtic to establish a commanding lead before the season was declared over, and Rangers know they missed an opportunity.
Kent told Rangers TV: "It's obviously frustrating.
"Going away at the winter break we'd done so well and the boys really got the sense we could go and achieve something this year.
"Unfortunately we fell short and we've only got ourselves to blame, we let ourselves down and let everybody else down.
"I think obviously we've shown that if we maintain that level of form that we can go and do this."
Kent had an up-and-down campaign after returning to Ibrox from Liverpool, and he knows that has to change this year.
He said: "I've struggled the last two pre-seasons to get regular game time and make sure that my muscles are prepared for the demands of the season, especially in this league where you play 50-plus games and it's very physically demanding.
"That's an area I need to work on this year, making sure I'm looking after myself with my recoveries and stuff."
