GARY McALLISTER reckons Rangers’ 2-0 win over Lyon last night was the perfect warm-up for next month’s trip to Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League.
Assistant manager McAllister was thrilled with the way his Rangers team performed against a top-quality Lyon side in their own backyard, as despite playing 50 minutes with 10-men, they defended superbly and carried a real threat on the break.
He told RangersTV: "I thought it was the ideal game for this time of our preparations. We are three weeks away from going to Bayer Leverkusen, so playing against an elite team from the Champions League - a step up from the Europa League we are in - was ideal.
"And likewise when we go and play Nice on Saturday, I think, again, it is another chance for our players to go in against some real, quality opposition who are very much aligned to Leverkusen.
"So to come here and win 2-0, play particularly well when we had 11 men on the pitch, and I thought the two goals were pretty special - two good goals, and although one was an own goal, it was well-worked, and the second goal was fantastic.
"If I was a neutral sat up here watching both teams, I thought both teams looked pretty fit and you have got to pay credit to our guys, as when we go to 10, and then we go to nine, there are a lot of changes being made by both teams, but I think the fitness of both sides looked pretty good and I thought they served up a decent game."
The way Gers kept their shape in both an attacking and a defensive sense last night was fantastic with 11, 10 and even nine men late-on as Brandon Barker went off injured.
He continued: "I think the players grew from that confidence of having that shape to just fall back on - all the players are very comfortable with the tactic, but the flip side of that then enables us to go and play.
"The fact that we were very good and solid defensively means that when we do win the ball back, we are close to each other so the little combinations was the thing which really pleased me."
Up next is Nice back at the Groupama Stadium on Saturday – where a victory for Gers will ensure they travel back to Glasgow with the Trophee Veolia on board the flight with them.
McAllister outlined the next 36 hours running up to that game, explaining: "Today, most of the guys will just warm down as nearly everybody got on so there will be a wee bit of training for the guys who played less minutes.
"But again, we are probably looking to play 60 and a 30 for certain players to get those numbers and those minutes under their belt before we move onto the next couple of pre-season friendlies."
Rangers finished last night’s game with 18 year-old Nathan Patterson, 22 year-old Ross McCrorie, 20 year-old Lewis Mayo and 20 year-old Calvin Bassey as their back four – the first of those three being Academy graduates.
On their efforts, McAllister beamed: "We call the penalty area when we are under pressure the red zone and I thought we defended our red zone brilliantly.
"And Jon McLaughlin did very well as well."