GARY McALLISTER has praised the ‘maturity and variation’ in Rangers’ play after they overcame a stuffy Motherwell side to claim all three points in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.
Gers were trailing by a goal going into the closing stages, but they stuck well to their game plan and eventually got their rewards through Cedric Itten and a Kemar Roofe double.
McAllister and the Gers squad are now preparing for tomorrow’s early evening trip to Perth to face St Johnstone, and it was the assistant manager who addressed the media this morning ahead of that.
He explained: "If we go back to the weekend against Motherwell and going a goal behind and asked the question to break down two lines of five, I thought there was good maturity and variation in our play.
"I just thought the accumulation of pressure put on Motherwell and that continual prompting and probing and being patient, I thought we got our just rewards at the end of the game and we were worthy winners I felt."
Again, the value of the strength in depth Gers have was on display on Saturday in the victory, with Joe Aribo, Itten, Ianis Hagi and Bongani Zungu all coming off the bench to make their mark on proceedings.
McAllister continued: "The changes were nice and subtle. I wouldn't underestimate what the guys in the first-half did and Glen Kamara is unfortunate to come off the pitch.
"The work and the pressure that the guys in the first half had put upon Motherwell's back-line was very impressive, but it does take time and I think by the end of the game, it was basically that accumulation of pressure, and then the addition of people who are a little bit finer maybe in the final and who can maybe just unlock a defence - that is what made the difference.
"Then, when we did get our noses in front, the ability to bring Bongani Zungu on, who is very disciplined in his approach to the game sitting just in front of the two central defenders just gives you a nice insurance policy so to speak.
"The changes worked - they were subtle changes but again, it is that accumulation of the whole team effort."
McAllister also gave a positive injury update, revealing Ryan Jack could be available for the festive visit of Hibs to Ibrox on Saturday.
He added: "The pleasing thing is Ryan has had a couple of good days on the grass and he is back and we are pretty hopeful that he could be in and around the squad for Boxing Day and Hibs, so that is a big boost going into this busy schedule.
"Alfredo comes back in and he is available and apart from that, we are good and picking from a full squad nearly."
The Gers go in to the game top of the table with a lead of sixteen points, with the Saints currently in tenth place.
If you are within the UK, you can listen to audio commentary of the match with commentator Tom Miller and former Gers player Iain Ferguson - HERE
If you are outside the UK/ROI, then you can watch the full match live on RangersTV featuring exclusive pre-match interviews with Michael Beale and Borna Barisic and our half time show - HERE
Following the match, RangersTV subscribers will be able to watch the full broadcast as live, highlights, goals and 90 In 90 available from midnight – with the latest episode of Away Days published at 7pm on Thursday night.
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We’ll have team news on the club website and social media channels from an hour before kick off, an up to the minute match gallery, a detailed match report and then the best post match reaction after the game.