Monday 28 November 2011

McCoist Questions Team's Desire


Rangers manager Ally McCoist doubted his team's desire after they suffered their first league defeat of the season at Kilmarnock.

"I would question the players' tempo and their attitude to go and win it," he told his club's website.

"We didn't play the game at a high enough tempo and we didn't show enough urgency to earn the three points.

"I believe for us to play at our best we have to play quicker and not give people time on the ball."

McCoist was disappointed that Rangers did not create more goal-scoring opportunities as their 14-game unbeaten run away from home came to halt.

Sone Aluko had a shot cleared off the line and Alejandro Bedoya shot straight at Kilmarnock goalkeeper Cammy Bell as the champions saw their Scottish Premier League lead cut to four points.

"We didn't create enough chances," said McCoist. "We had an opportunity early on and then Kane Hemmings had a shot in 43 minutes.

"We hit the post in the second half, Ale Bedoya had a chance and we had a couple of cut-backs which came to nothing.

We didn't show enough urgency to win the three pointsRangers manager Ally McCoist

"We really need to be creating more chances than that and we need to be taking them."

Kilmarnock's winner came when debutant Aluko played Manuel Pascali onside following Garry Hay's pass and his header beat Allan McGregor

McCoist said: "I haven't had a chance to have a good look at the goal, but defensively it's poor. Our goals-against record has been very good but that's another howler we have lost.

"My initial reaction was that Pascali was offside but I'm told there was no way that was the case."

Aluko's overall performance please McCoist, however, who said: "I thought he did fine. Most of the things we were creating he was involved in. In terms of a debut it was fine."

The Ibrox manager pitched in young defender Ross Perry after Carlos Bocanegra suffered an injury in training, and suffered a further blow when Kyle Lafferty was forced off injured before half-time.

"It's a small tear in Carlos's hamstring," he said. "It was enough to force him out today and we don't know yet about next weekend. That didn't help but Ross Perry came in and did fine.

"In terms of Lafferty we will have a look tomorrow. He has been heavily iced and we hope things calm down in the next 24 hours."