The young Gers were a comparatively younger side in this afternoon’s narrow defeat to Queen of the South in KDM Evolution Trophy league phase action, with debuts handed to three 2010-born players.
15-year-old Kyle Glasgow was given the nod from the off and caught the eye in a game in which Rangers were superior in without being able to find their clinical edge.
Speaking to RangersTV after the game, Smith said of his pride in his youngsters: “It told me everything that I need to know about the Academy; there are really good young players at every age group. We were fortunate to watch three of the 2010-born players come up and play today.
“Kyle Glasgow started the game and I thought he was excellent.
“I first coached him at the Edinburgh centres and one thing he always had was technical ability; he could always handle the ball.
“He showed a real aggression out of possession today, which didn’t surprise me because I’ve watched him do it for the Under-17s and in the sessions he’s been involved with us.
“It was really impressive he took it into a game of this level at his age.”
On the encouragement provided by the younger players ahead of next month’s fixture against Dumbarton in the competition during the October international break, Smith continued: “Again, when the international breaks come we’re going to be missing eight or nine players again.
“It’s just something that we need to deal with. We learned a lot about the group today; not just the younger players but also the older ones who were miles better than they have been in this competition.
“Collectively, it was miles better and we looked more like a team, but we never won.”
Rangers ought to have been in a commanding position at the half-time interval after carving out several clear-cut opportunities.
However, the League One outfit struck shortly into the second period, and despite a leveller from substitute Cormac Christie it was the home side who found the winning goal.
Smith added on the display: “We’re never happy to lose a game, but everything I asked the players to give me they done both sides of the game.
“In possession I asked them to trust their ability and to handle the ball, and they done that, but out of possession be patient and aggressive at the right times.
“I’m never happy to lose but I can’t ask for any more from my players.
“The big chances are important, but I would still back the players who missed the chances all day long. It was just one of those days.”
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