Ally McCoist calls for cool heads after red mist of last trip

Manager Ally McCoist has warned Rangers against losing their discipline when they take on Maribor in tonight's Europa League play-off. The Ibrox manager has witnessed the dismissals of three of his players in their last two games and says they must be more "clever" when it comes to cautions.

Steven Whittaker and Madjid Bougherra - who has since joined Qatari outfit Lekhwiya - were both sent off as Rangers crashed out of Champions League qualifying to Malmo. And Maurice Edu also saw red in Saturday's 2-0 league win against Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

McCoist said: "The Malmo game was definitely a disappointment. To have two players red-carded isn't ideal under any circumstances and I thought both of them were needless red cards. Maurice Edu's red card at Inverness was also needless so we have spoken about it.

"There hasn't been any malice involved in the red cards or real devilment in any of the challenges, it's just been a bit of naivety that has cost us. So we have to be more clever in terms of our yellow and red cards."

Asked if he expects Rangers to be more physical than their hosts, McCoist said: "I'm not sure that we are more physical but that side of the game certainly doesn't scare us at all. We will not go out and try to intimidate and be over-physical, we will play the game in the right manner and try to play football."

McCoist is short of defensive options ahead of the first leg in Slovenia after David Weir and Kyle Bartley missed the trip through injury, while Whittaker and Sasa Papac are both suspended. However, Lee McCulloch should recover from a knee injury and McCoist was impressed by youngster Ross Perry when he replaced Bartley at the weekend. He said: "We are missing our skipper David Weir and having Kyle Bartley coming off at Inverness isn't ideal, especially with Madjid Bougherra being away.

"It's just something we will have to have a look at. We've got options. Kirk Broadfoot can play at centre-back, Lee Wallace can come in from the left side and Lee McCulloch can play there. I thought Ross Perry did well when he came on for Kyle at the weekend so that's another option. Although it's not ideal, there are no panic buttons being pressed."

Despite having several players unavailable, McCoist believes Rangers are in better shape in terms of their form than they were against Malmo. He added: "Without wanting to tempt fate, I think we are certainly looking a little bit better and looking a bit sharper.

"The games at the start of the season have helped us and, in recent performances, including Malmo away, I thought we played well. I can see a gradual improvement. We are not back to where we can be but we are heading in the right direction."McCoist revealed he has sought the lowdown on Maribor from new signing Dorin Goian, whose former club Palermo overcame the Slovenians at the same stage last year.

McCoist said: "He's got nothing but praise for them. Especially at home, he said they were very, very good and we will have to look at that as well."