Ally McCoist Speaking Ahead Of Tonight's Game

 

RANGERS will host Hibernian on Monday night at Ibrox and Ally McCoist expects a tough game despite the start the Hibees have had to their League campaign.

Alan Stubbs' men have yet to pick up a point away from home in the League and have only managed two wins out of six games already this season.

That said, Ally McCoist knows that it's still early in the season and anything can happen before the end of the campaign, "The season has just started, we're only six games into it and there's miles and miles still to go.

"As I say, the opposition that we have seen are more than capable of taking points. I'd be loathed to confine it to a two horse race at this stage of the season. There will be a lot of twists and turns between now and the end of the season with some good teams taking points of each other."

The Gers defeated Hibs 2-1 earlier in the season thanks to goals from Nicky Law and Lewis Macleod and the manger was impressed with what he saw from the men from Edinburgh, "I thought that Hibs played quite well against us in the first game of the season.

"They've had a couple of good results and a couple of not so good results. I think they probably played as well against us as any other team have. It'll be an extremely tough game."

"From Hibs point of view, they will have wanted to have started a little bit better there'll be no doubt about that. But for me, it says more about the difficulties that Hibs, Hearts and Rangers in particular face in the League.

"I said before the start of the League that Queen of the South, Falkirk, Dumbarton and teams like that are all capable on their day of providing stern opposition no matter who they are playing. So, I think it says more about the difficulties that we'll all face throughout the League campaign."

Team news for tonight's match

ARNOLD PERALTA makes his third start of the season as he comes into the Rangers side for tonight’s SPFL Championship clash with Hibernian at Ibrox.

The Honduran international has only completed 90 minutes once since the summer in the 2-1 League Cup victory over Queen’s Park last month.

But he will be hoping to do that again this evening having been preferred to Fraser Aird on the right flank for the meeting with Alan Stubbs’ side.

Winger Aird drops to the bench as Gers bid to close the gap at the top of the table between them and leaders Hearts to three points after seven fixtures.

Elsewhere, the same side which defeated Falkirk 3-1 last midweek to set up a last-eight tie with St Johnstone in the League Cup is selected.

That means Dean Shiels, who scored his first goal of 2014/15 at Westfield, joins Kris Boyd in attack once again.

Ian Black, the other away scorer against the Bairns along with own goal victim Owain Tudur Jones, partners Nicky Law in central midfield.

Peralta will take a place on the right flank, with Stevie Smith utilised on the left as he makes his third consecutive start.

Steve Simonsen stays in goal as Cammy Bell’s absence with a dislocated shoulder stretches on towards Christmas.

Darren McGregor, captain Lee McCulloch, Bilel Mohsni and Lee Wallace team up in defence to complete the first XI.

David Templeton is among the substitutes having shaken off a minor knock to prove he is fit enough to be involved.

Kyle Hutton, Marius Zaliukas, Jon Daly and Richard Foster will also be hoping to get on, while Lee Robinson is the reserve goalkeeper.

Rangers have won each of their last five games with Hibs and the Edinburgh side has made a poor start to the title race, winning just twice and losing four matches.

They do arrive in Glasgow off the back of a good 2-0 League Cup success at Ross County though and will hope that result can inspire another good one for them at Ibrox.

RANGERS: Simonsen; McGregor, McCulloch, Mohsni, Wallace; Peralta, Black, Law, Smith; Shiels, Boyd.

SUBS: Robinson, Aird, Daly, Templeton, Hutton, Foster, Zaliukas.

I don't think anyone saw that coming, least of all the Hibs players. Up until their opening goal they looked nervous and disjointed, barely able to string two passes together. The opener came out of the blue, a long punt upfield, pounced on by the lone Hibs attacker. Shoddy defending accounted for Hibs' second, but the third looked to have a touch of class about it, albeit against a still shell-shocked Rangers side.

Rangers improved after the break, Nicky Law pulling a goal back before the hour mark to give Rangers faint hope which ultimately wasn't enough. Rangers had their chances but couldn't capitalise. Kris Boyd's dry spell continues; he actually found the back of the net, but the goal was rightly ruled out for offside.

 

Shocking result and a wakeup call for anyone who thought that promotion this season would be a foregone conclusion.

Final score: Rangers 1-3 Hibs.

worrying night - a bit like the mini league in the English Premier League, I feel promotion will be decided in the mini league between Hearts, Hibs and Rangers.  So far that's not good for the Gers, two home games - two defeats.  It has to be better before Christmas

Saw the first half. As Big Figure has said, shoddy defending for the second goal.

Just back.

Ugly scenes and a horrible performance.

McCoist needs to go

Ally McCoist speaking after last night's match:

 

Our Defending Was Criminal

ALLY McCOIST admits Rangers can’t expect to compete in the SPFL Championship if they keep conceding goals so easily.

The Light Blues were beaten 3-1 by Hibernian at Ibrox tonight as they fell to their second reverse in seven league games to remain six points behind leaders Hearts.

Jason Cummings scored either side of David Gray’s header, with Nicky Law pulling one back after the break.

While the visitors deserved their success, they were helped on the way by some poor defending from the hosts.

Gers have only kept three clean sheets in 12 matches since 2014/15 began and all three goals conceded this evening were slack.

McCoist was infuriated by that and insists his men must sharpen up at the back. He said: “There’s no doubt the level of goal we lost was shocking.

“We started the game brightly but couldn’t get the first goal and then effectively lost one from a keeper’s punt up the park.

“He just launched one from a poor delivery at our free kick and all of a sudden Cummings was through. I don’t know what Arnold (Peralta) tried to do.

“Their second was a back post header after losing possession and we didn’t attempt to close them down on the left.

“The third was a comedy of errors too. We’re really, really angry and disappointed. We can’t expect to give away goals like that and compete in the game.

“At half-time, unless you get a miracle, the game is effectively over. We shot ourselves in the foot.

“The first goal was very important tonight and from our point of view, our defending was criminal.â€

Rangers remain ahead of Raith Rovers in the runners-up position by virtue of a better goal difference despite their loss.

Of greater concern is the gap between the Light Blues and Hearts, which has increased thanks to the Tynecastle side’s 5-0 win against Livingston yesterday.

But McCoist added: “It’s very early in the season. I don’t think anyone would argue that and we’re still sitting second in the table at the moment.

“We’re not even a fifth of the way through the season and as disappointed as we are, we’re not going to start pressing panic buttons. It’s far too early for that.â€

I sat in bar and watched match, had to take a slagging from work mates who are not rangers/chelsea fans. gers were bad I have to say, but it will get better. The league is ours!!!!! come on ye gers!!!!

The first Hibs goal was one of the worst I have ever seen Rangers concede and I've seen a few !

 

Inept performance by most of the team.

Two of the biggest forums on the net for Rangers supporters has 95% of over 1500 wanting McCoist to walk.

Mood down the road is in fitting with this, radio phone ins and my old local show the gers fans think his time is now up.

Edited October 3, 201411 yr by RFC_CFC

Mccoist is not manager material at all. But who would take us on?