Rangers: McCoist admits side must tighten up

Rangers manager Ally McCoist and assistant manager Kenny McDowall. Picture: PA

Rangers set up a second-round clash against Caley when they beat Queen’s Park 2-1 at Airdrie on Tuesday night, but McCoist was unhappy with the concession of several free-kicks, including one that led to the amateurs’ equaliser following a mistake by goalkeeper Steve Simonsen.

Kris Boyd’s headed double set up an Ibrox clash on September 16 with a trip to Falkirk awaiting the winners the following week.

And McCoist knows they will need to play well against a side which beat them 3-0 in Govan at the quarter-final stage two seasons ago.

McCoist said: “Let’s be honest, the way things are shaping up, we have a home tie against the in-form team in the country at the moment. They are top of the league for a reason.

“They haven’t lost a goal in the league and are playing really, really well.

“Big Yogi (Inverness boss John Hughes) likes his sides to play but at the same time they certainly look like they have a bit of steel about them, the way they are defending.

“So we will certainly have to have a lot more discipline in that particular game, but the main thing is we have an opportunity to play them.”

Before then Rangers host Queen of the South in the Scottish Championship, another team they have lost to in cup competitions in recent seasons, although they also beat them last term.

Captain Lee McCulloch told the club’s website: “It will be a big test for us. They’re a good team which is always well organised and they’ve got good strikers.

“They pass the ball about really well too so they will come to Ibrox feeling confident and that they can get something.

“They went to extra-time in the League Cup against Livingston so hopefully that will give us a little bit of an edge.

“We’ll be looking to use the crowd to our advantage and will set out looking to start the game at a high tempo as we look to take three points.”