Stuart McCall: “We’re still in this”
Stuart McCall was as disappointed
as anyone with Rangers’ display tonight, in the dismal 1-3 loss to Motherwell
in the SPFL playoff final, but believes if his side can get the first goal on
Sunday it could be a different game.
as anyone with Rangers’ display tonight, in the dismal 1-3 loss to Motherwell
in the SPFL playoff final, but believes if his side can get the first goal on
Sunday it could be a different game.
Close to tears, the Rangers
gaffer bemoaned the number of players who did not show up:
gaffer bemoaned the number of players who did not show up:
“Hugely disappointed with the performance,
and obviously the result. I think if you look over it we had too many lads with
off-nights tonight. We haven’t been able to say that of late. Full credit to
Motherwell, they picked us off when they needed to.”
and obviously the result. I think if you look over it we had too many lads with
off-nights tonight. We haven’t been able to say that of late. Full credit to
Motherwell, they picked us off when they needed to.”
The Rangers boss was especially
critical of the weak defending on show from his men:
critical of the weak defending on show from his men:
“The goals, the first goal, we’re attacking
and they break on us, and we don’t get tight enough. They get a little bit of
luck, I think Cammy’s saved the shot but it deflects off Darren and goes over.
The second goal was just a bread and butter set piece goal and we’re nowhere
near, the marking was very slack and sloppy and you can’t afford to defend like
that.”
and they break on us, and we don’t get tight enough. They get a little bit of
luck, I think Cammy’s saved the shot but it deflects off Darren and goes over.
The second goal was just a bread and butter set piece goal and we’re nowhere
near, the marking was very slack and sloppy and you can’t afford to defend like
that.”
He was also extremely disappointed
with Rangers’ disappointing use of the ball in possession, describing it as ‘poor’:
with Rangers’ disappointing use of the ball in possession, describing it as ‘poor’:
“I thought in possession of the ball we were
poor, which was unlike us. We didn’t get in the areas we wanted to outside the
centre-halves, but for that you’ve got to give Motherwell credit.”
poor, which was unlike us. We didn’t get in the areas we wanted to outside the
centre-halves, but for that you’ve got to give Motherwell credit.”
McCall even went so far as to
suggest the all-round display was a complete failure, hinting:
suggest the all-round display was a complete failure, hinting:
“We didn’t do any part of the game
especially well tonight and that’s a frustrating thing because if we’d been on
top of our game the result would have been different. That’s probably as poorly
as we’ve played and as well as Motherwell have played in a long time.”
especially well tonight and that’s a frustrating thing because if we’d been on
top of our game the result would have been different. That’s probably as poorly
as we’ve played and as well as Motherwell have played in a long time.”
But he still believes Rangers can
come out on top with the first goal:
come out on top with the first goal:
“Obviously we’re a bit down at the minute,
naturally, but we will regroup over the weekend and if we can get the first
goal on Sunday it can be a different game.”
naturally, but we will regroup over the weekend and if we can get the first
goal on Sunday it can be a different game.”
Rangers are down, close to being
out. But the fat lady has not sung just yet.
out. But the fat lady has not sung just yet.