Brian Gilmour Believes The Squad Must Start Strong

BRIAN Gilmour insists that the Rangers B team’s second leg in the UEFA Youth League ‘isn’t put to bed yet’ as they prepare to welcome Septemvri Sofia to Dumbarton on Tuesday evening.

The B team assistant coach believes the squad must start the second leg of the tie with a strong performance to maintain their lead and move into the next round of the tournament.

Speaking exclusively to RangersTV ahead of the fixture, Gilmour reflected on the squad’s performance in the first leg in Sofia last month.

He said: “We spoke after the first game that the tie isn’t put to bed yet, I think that there is credit to go away anywhere in Europe and score four goals. I think it leaves the tie at the start of the game a little bit open, there is a lead there, but we are under no illusion that the first goal can be crucial.

“Sofia showed up that they have got a threat. They are a dangerous side, and we will need to be on our guard to make sure that we start the second leg properly with real quality that can hopefully put is in a stronger position at the start of the game.

“When we go and play against good opposition, things can change. I think that there was a real composure and calmness how they went about it to go and get the equaliser [in the first leg]. And when they came out for the second half, that calmness was still there but I thought they took it up a notch in terms of their levels both with and without the ball.

“We will treat it the same way we did Hammarby in the round before, we are all aware of the scoreline and know that it is there. However, the way that we look at it, the game is still level. Our aim will be the same two things, perform and go and win the tie.

“We will have one eye that it is 4-2, but certainly the messages and where the players’ minds are at in the game is that it is a level match. We will go and attack the game as we always do and try and win that single match.”

Gilmour added that the support the young Gers have received in this tournament from home fans has been ‘magnificent’ and looks forward to seeing that on Tuesday night at Dumbarton.

He continued: “I think that the support that the lads have received throughout everything has been tremendous. If you look at the leg we played over in Sofia, there was a good home crowd in, but I must also mention that there was a contingent of away supporters that have travelled to the game, which is a magnificent effort to go and support the young lads.

“That was felt and the players enjoyed it, and it just shows you the global reach everybody connected to this football club has.”

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