Rangers 4 Montrose 1: Blooding youngsters key to Rangers' future, says McCoist

Graeme Macpherson

Football Writer

Monday 24 September 2012

THAT birthday cake will taste a little sweeter.

Ally McCoist urges on his players after Montrose equalise in the first half. Picture: SNS

Custom byline text:

Graeme Macpherson

If pressure had been mounting on Ally McCoist after Rangers' midweek Ramsdens Cup defeat by Queen of the South, then this was like a release valve being turned. It was not as convincing as the scoreline may suggest – Rangers huffed and puffed somewhat in the first half – but the victory, which takes the Ibrox side up to second place in the league table, was heartedly welcomed. It would surely have put something of a dampener on the manager's 50th birthday celebrations had his team again failed to live up to expectations.

The match followed a similar script to Rangers' previous home league games; a sluggish, fairly inept first-half performance followed by a more convincing second-half display as their part-time opponents visibly tired. For 45 minutes, Montrose were more than a match for their supposedly superior hosts – and deservedly trooped up the tunnel on level terms – before being brushed aside. Rangers deserved the victory but it was harder to come by than they would surely have liked. Further challenges await this week. Motherwell are next at Ibrox for a Scottish Communities League Cup tie that will test Rangers' credentials to the full, while there can be few at Ibrox eagerly anticipating a trip to play Forres Mechanics in the William Hill Scottish Cup next weekend. McCoist had described the prospect of an extended cup run as "a bonus" this season, insisting that promotion from the third division remains the prime objective. On that front they are at least back on target, the victory taking them to within a point of leaders Queen's Park. Despite the result, defensive frailties will surely still give McCoist cause for concern. A relatively inexperienced back four – Lee Wallace aside – looked vulnerable whenever Montrose pushed forward in the first half and they will likely be stretched further on Wednesday night by Michael Higdon, Jamie Murphy and the rest of the Motherwell front line. More positive for McCoist were the performances of his younger players. The hope among Rangers supporters had been that this lower-league odyssey would be led by the cream of the Murray Park academy, and the youth players are gradually making a mark. Lewis MacLeod scored Rangers' third goal in a man-of-the-match performance and Robbie Crawford tapped in the fourth, while Fraser Aird and Barrie McKay also brightened up the manager's day. "We have to get out of the division – we must win – but if we are going to get a chance to rebuild then now would be a perfect time to blood the youngsters," said McCoist. "We're asking these guys to come in and do men's jobs, and they're doing it really well."In the home league games against East Stirlingshire and Elgin City Rangers had gone behind, and were fortunate not to do so again. Leighton McIntosh, on loan from Dundee, breezed through some half-hearted tackling to thud a shot that was deflected over the top and, from the resultant corner, David Gray's delivery was helped on to his own post by Anestis Argyriou. Moments later and only some brave goalkeeping by Neil Alexander denied Garry Wood as the striker threatened to dribble in on goal with the Rangers defence again all at sea. All this and barely five minutes gone. The home side were only marginally more inspired further up the park. In players such as Dean Shiels, McKay, MacLeod and the overlapping Wallace they had players capable of conjuring opportunities, although too often the wrong pass was picked or a promising move would inexplicably break down. A goal, though, came after 25 minutes. McCulloch used his height to nod a pass to the on-rushing Shiels, who kept his composure to finish adroitly beyond David Crawford. However, within six minutes they were pegged back. Wood and Argyriou jumped to meet Ricky McIntosh's near-post free kick, the defender diverting the ball past his own goalkeeper to bring Montrose level. It was to murmurings of discontent from the majority of the home support that the teams trooped off at half-time.Rangers, though, were much brighter after the break as the Montrose threat crumbled. MacLeod nudged them in front after 55 minutes – turning on Sebastien Faure's pass before finishing across the goalkeeper – before a third, rammed home by McCulloch after good work again by MacLeod, ended any doubt over the result. Crawford, only on as a substitute two minutes previously, completed the scoring eight minutes from time, latching on to Wallace's pass to score his first goal for the club.

Contextual targeting label:

Sport

Commenting & Moderation

We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.

Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.

Rangers 4 Montrose 1: Blooding youngsters key to Rangers' future, says McCoist

Commenting & Moderation

MOST READ

SPONSORED LINKS

MOST COMMENTED