Ally McCoist insists first-choice Rangers side more than a match for Celtic

Published on Friday 10 February 2012 00:00

THE size of the task facing Ally McCoist in his bid to retain the SPL title for Rangers was graphically displayed by Celtic’s 4-0 demolition job at Tynecastle on Wednesday night.

The Rangers manager watched the action unfold from the comfort of his living room but might easily have felt a chill down his spine at the ruthless manner in which his biggest rivals re-opened a four-point lead at the top of the table.

The depth of resources at the disposal of McCoist’s opposite number Neil Lennon was emphasised by Ki Sung Yeung and Kris Commons spending the whole of the evening on the substitutes’ bench, while last season’s Player of the Year Emilio Izaguirre was unable to even find a place in Celtic’s 18-man squad.

Contrasted with Rangers’ current woes, which see McCoist pinning his hopes on the possible short-term return of Daniel Cousin, it is easy to see why the Ibrox men are now priced as long as 5-1 to win a fourth successive SPL crown.

But, while he accepts Celtic have a clear advantage in terms of strength in depth, McCoist remains defiant that his first choice starting line-up can prove more than a match for Lennon’s side over the remaining 13 games of the championship campaign.

“Without doubt, there is a big difference between the squads,” said McCoist. “In terms of numbers and strength of squad, we don’t really have it. But I would argue the case that, if we could get a wee bit of luck and get players back that we are missing through injury at the moment, then I would take my chances for the rest of the season with a fully-fit team.”

The tame nature of Rangers’ elimination from the Scottish Cup at home to Dundee United has exposed McCoist and his players to considerable criticism and places them under significant pressure ahead of their return to SPL business against bottom of the table Dunfermline at East End Park tomorrow.

McCoist accepts they have reached a point where they must prove they can cope with the expectations surrounding a club like Rangers.

“I think that’s fair comment,” McCoist added. “In times of need, you need men around you to stand up and be counted. The club has always had that in the past and now is another time when the club is in need.

“I’ve got to be honest with you, I look about our dressing room and think we have some great men in there. We could definitely do with a couple more. And by that I mean numbers, not that anyone here is unable to stand up and be counted. I don’t think we have a problem in terms of personnel willing to roll up their sleeves and get on with it.

“I hope this could be the making of them as Rangers players. We’ll have to wait and find out. We definitely know what is required now and what we have to do. Time will tell if we can but we know the job at hand.”

While McCoist is pleased to welcome 20-year-old striker Kane Hemmings back into his plans this week following injury, he says he is reluctant to delve too deeply into the Murray Park youth academy in order to bolster his squad over the remaining three months of the season.

“It’s all about getting a balance,” he added. “If your team is doing really well then sometimes you can give youth a chance to blossom. But sometimes you have to nurture youth players for themselves as much as the club. It would be a little bit unfair in some cases to throw young lads into a situation that could be difficult.

“Put it this way, it’s a lot easier for youngster to come into a team that is winning and on a consistent run of form than it is otherwise. We have been using Gregg Wylde and have been unlucky with Jamie Ness. Kane Hemmings was involved at the start of the season and is coming back from injury now. So there are certainly youngsters who have an opportunity to play for Rangers. But, on the other side, I would be loathe to throw them in and potentially do them damage.”

One player who could yet come in from the fringes to play a role for McCoist in the title run-in is Australian international midfielder Matt McKay. The 29-year-old has made just three first-team appearances since signing from Brisbane Roar last August but McCoist is now reluctant to let him leave the club. “There was talk of Matt going back to Brisbane or one or two other places, but I’m not sure it would be in our interests to let him go,” he said. “He played in a closed-door friendly against Raith Rovers this week and did well.

“It has been hard for him to get into central midfield, where I would argue Steven Davis and Maurice Edu have done well, while we have gone with Sasa Papac or Lee Wallace on the left and Sone Aluko on the right. But I’ve not closed the door on Matt, I’m not in a position do that with anyone.”