MARK WARBURTON believes his side’s performance in their defeat to Celtic proved the gap between the teams is close and will get closer as the season progresses.

The Rangers manager told his players they can’t afford to feel sorry for themselves after all their hard work came to nothing when Moussa Dembele’s late winner sealed the Betfred League Cup semi-final for the Parkhead side.

And while it was a second successive defeat to Celtic, albeit this one came after a much improved display, Warburton stressed that there were far more positives to take from this game than negatives.

Read more: Late agony for Rangers but qualified success as Plan B provides Warburton with Old Firm blueprintThe Herald:

“We’ve lost a semi-final at Hampden 1-0 so there is disappointment and frustration,” said Warburton. “But I think there were a lot of positives to take out of the game.

“We worked very hard to move forward and gel as a team and I hope very much you saw that. We can’t afford to sit there and mope around for two or three days. We have a very important league game on Wednesday and again on Saturday against tough opposition. We can’t afford any hangover.

“The important thing is to look at the game and learn from it – as we always do – but there are a lot of positives. The so-called gap is a lot narrower than people think, I hope, but we have to learn from today’s performance."

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Warburton’s caused a few surprises in his formation, switched to a 4-1-4-1, and also in selection. Matt Gilks started in goal, and had a good game in terms of the saves he made, while Lee Hodson came in at right-back which meant James Tavernier pushing into midfield.

“Players were asked to play out of position today and I felt Lee did well coming in at right back. He was great one against one and made good use of the ball.

“We also lost Niko Krancjar, Danny Wilson and Jordan Rossiter but that’s no excuse. We just have to work hard. We have done that and it was tight there until the 87th minute.

“It is about self-belief. You can talk all you like about it with you guys, but you have to do your talking on the pitch. What’s the best way of keeping your critics quiet? To go and win games of football. That’s what we have to do.”

The Rangers manager’s one complaint was that his team were not clinical enough when they did get near Celtic’s penalty area. Apart from a Jason Holt shot which was blocked by Jozo Simunovic, they never really looked like scoring.

“The game opened up in the second half and our frustration was we went too long too often but it’s an emotional game with a lot of people cramping up and everything that’s involved in an Old Firm game,” said Warburton.

“So maybe we weren’t brave enough in the second half and that’s a frustration to all of us. We did get into wide areas and got behind their full backs but maybe needed a bit more quality.

“I felt Jason Holt’s chance was a big, big moment in the game. I thought it was in. We have missed Jason. We lost him for six weeks and he adds quality and energy with and without the ball for us.

“He can break forward with well timed runs and it was perfectly demonstrated there. I thought it was in the back of the net, I was up celebrating.

“The tempo was higher and we were very brave in many situations. So I’m delighted with the players.

“I think they showed their quality. There is no lack of desire, work ethic or focus. The players know what they have to do, they know the club they are playing for and the expectations. There is a lot of pressure on them. But we are getting there. The aim is to work hard and continue that progress.”

Warburton went for broke with the score level and that did allow Celtic more space in the Rangers half as the match went on.

However, the Englishman said: “The game was opening up in the second half. You saw both teams having chances and getting crosses in. You have to be bold with the substitutions.

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“What are we going to do - defend a 0-0? You have to go and win the game. It’s about being bold.

“The players worked hard. Kenny Miller put in a magnificent shift, Barrie McKay likewise. Josh Windass has been out injured for a number of weeks and that was his first game back, so he lacked a bit of energy.

“But there is no lack of quality in our squad. Whoever we use, we are happy with.

“They took one chance right at the death. It went through the goalie’s legs as far as I saw it. It was that type of game, where one chance would change it. It was nip and tuck, chances at both ends.”