LEANNE CRICHTON has praised her Rangers side for delivering on derby day once again.
The Light Blues were on top from the off with a Katie Wilkinson hat-trick the difference in their 3-0 away success and their fourth overall in the fixture this season.
Speaking to RangersTV after the win at New Douglas Park to send her team a point off the summit, she commented: “I am really pleased, it was so important today that we went about our business in the right manner.
“We wanted to control the game and manage the big moments in it, making sure that we were ruthless at both ends of the pitch.
“I just felt right across the pitch every single player today was outstanding.
“We have had to put square pegs in round holes at points this season, we have had to shuffle the team and even today we are still without key players within the group.
“I just thought performance wise and the way they managed it was top class.
“Wilko comes up with three moments of real quality which becomes the headlines but I think just the team performance and the collective today is what is more important.
“We have always felt in these types of games this season that we have probably shot ourselves in the foot and conceded too many cheap moments, given teams too much incentive to get us.
“It was important that we started with that control and level of game management. We know the Old Firm can be a really fierce encounter and both sets of players enjoy the fixture which we would never try and take that away from them, but it was just the level of control and the game management that was important.
“I just felt throughout the whole game we had that control and the impact players coming off the bench and just the squad and staff collective top was so important.
“It was difficult probably playing on the Monday knowing that the games had played out yesterday and the way the league is going to swing.
“For us it is just really focused on what we are doing and I am really pleased.”
The number 44 came up with the decisive moments for the team once again on another big occasion, with Crichton not surprised at the levels she consistently shows with the work she puts in on the training pitch.
She continued: “It doesn't happen by chance that is the thing. I think with Wilko people look at her and even the penalty at 2-0 people look at that as if it is a straightforward process, she works on it every single day.
“She focuses on the pressure moments and how to deal with it when it comes. The free kick was outstanding as well and the header that got us going this afternoon.
“The difference in quality, from Brogan off that right hand for the delivery was exceptional as well.
“Overall Wilko will get the headlines with the hat-trick and rightly so. She has been outstanding for us this season and again I would never take that away from her.
“Every player I could go through each one of them just now and tell you the qualities. What is really pleasing for me is the days that this happens and across the pitch you see the performance level is really consistent are the days that go to plan for us and that is what I keep saying.
“We have been striving for consistency this season and today was one of those good days.”
The extended international break now kicks in once again with Rangers not in action until the 24th of the month when they host Hearts, as the Head Coach gave an insight into how that period will look for her players.
She added: “I wish I could just keep everybody here and not send them anywhere but unfortunately that is what happens with international players.
“We wish them well as we always do, we hope that they get on with their national teams and get them back safe and well.
“The ones that remain will keep working hard, we know exactly what we need to do now to be in this title race, to deal with our own business.
“We can get right into that as of Wednesday, the players will have a day off tomorrow to relax and recover and rejuvenate.
“The ones that go off on their travels we'll wish them well and for us we'll get to work.”
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