Barry Ferguson believes Rangers showed what they can do when they listen to him with their thumping 4-0 win over Aberdeen at Ibrox.
The former Gers captain, installed as boss in February until the end of the season, had complained about the players not adhering to instructions in the 2-2 draw at St Mirren which came before last week’s more encouraging 1-1 home draw with champions Celtic.
Ferguson was looking for his first Ibrox win in the six matches since taking over and Rangers’ first victory in seven games. Vaclav Cerny opened the scoring in the 55th minute before further goals from striker Cyriel Dessers, substitute Hamza Igamane and left-back Jefte wrapped up victory.
Asked if he could see what this Rangers team can be like when it clicks, Ferguson said: “Yeah, I see when they listen as well. They can be a good team.
“As I said, going back to the game last Sunday, their commitment and attitude has always been really good for me. I can never label that against them.
“It’s just the quality at times. So we worked really hard during the week on things that we can get better at.
“And it was just nice to see things happen when you work with things on the training ground.
“But I had to remind them at half-time, that we need to be better. We need to threaten Aberdeen.
“And once we got that first goal, I felt there was a calmness about us. And we started to play the way that I know the boys can.
“And I thought in the end we ran over the top of Aberdeen. Just disappointed it was only four. I thought it could have been more.”
Nicolas Raskin was stadium man-of-the match and former Scotland and Gers midfielder Ferguson admits he sees a lot of himself in the Belgium international.
He said: “Yeah, too much of myself. That’s why I argue with him. But he’s got an opinion, I don’t mind people with opinions.
“I just think if he works on things that we speak about, he’s got a real chance of playing at the top.
“Nico will tell you he wants to be a number six. I think he can be a number six, but also I think he needs to add different attributes to his game. I think he can play further forward. And it’s good to have that flexibility.
“He’s got really good ability, there’s no doubt. And I think he’s, certainly from the turn of the year, his levels of performance have been up there.”
With two William Hill Premiership fixtures remaining, Scottish Gas Scottish Cup finalists Aberdeen remain three points behind third-placed Hibernian.
Boss Jimmy Thelin was unhappy with the way his side responded to losing the first goal.
He said: “We had a long talk inside the dressing room after the game and I think performance-wise after the first goal, it’s like we’re not a collective team anymore, we play as individuals and it was way too easy to arrive to our goal with just a few passes.
“You have to take responsibility and try to discipline these moments.”
Asked if the upcoming cup final against Celtic affected his players, he said: “I hope not, because we know where we are in the league. There’s so much to play for here, and you never know what’s going to happen in the future.
“You have to be, as a player, as a team, as a manager, you have to take it game by game, because it’s always about performance.
“If someone thinks about the cup finals already, then the folks are in the wrong place, and they’re not going to perform well.”
Leyton Orient manager Richie Wellens hailed his team as outstanding after they survived a penalty shootout to reach the Sky Bet League One play-off final.The Londoners prevailed 4-1 on spot-kicks after an absorbing semi-final with Stockport ended 3-3 on aggregate following a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Edgeley Park on Wednesday.Orient, who will now play Charlton or Wycombe at Wembley, are potentially ...
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers criticised Aberdeen midfielder Pape Gueye for a “needless challenge” on Reo Hatate in the Hoops’ 5-1 victory.Johnny Kenny marked his full Celtic debut with his first goal for the club, heading home the fourth early in the second half at Pittodrie.Maik Nawrocki also headed his first goal with Yang Hyun-jun, Luke McCowan and Adam Idah also on target.K...
Barry Ferguson was left feeling emotional hearing Rangers fans signing his name at the end of the 3-1 William Hill Premiership win over Dundee United.The former Gers captain was installed as boss in February until the end of the season and, amid an impending takeover, it seems the club could go elsewhere for a permanent manager with Davide Ancelotti – son of Real Madrid head coach Carlo &nda...
Hibernian manager David Gray thanked the club’s board for sticking by him after his team secured third place in the William Hill Premiership with a 2-2 draw at St Mirren.First-half efforts from Martin Boyle and Mykola Kukharevych had Hibs in the ascendancy before Saints hit back to earn a point thanks to goals from Richard Taylor and Conor McMenamin.The draw, though, combined with Aberdeen&r...
Simo Valakari had no complaints after his dejected St Johnstone players learned their 16-year stay in the William Hill Premiership was over when they returned to the dressing room several minutes after their 2-1 defeat at Hearts.Despite losing at Tynecastle, Saints thought they were going to have one last crack at survival on Sunday as Ross County – the team immediately above them – we...
Dundee boss Tony Docherty left media duties to his assistant Stuart Taylor after “confusion and disbelief” following the controversial 1-1 draw with Ross County at Dens Park.Docherty, who has criticised several VAR calls this season, had been visibly furious after the Staggies were awarded a last-gasp penalty.Dundee were leading 1-0 thanks to a Scott Tiffoney goal and seemed on course ...
Kilmarnock assistant manager Paul Sheerin claimed boss Derek McInnes was in a “horrible situation” after being subjected to the anger of a number of visiting fans during a 3-0 defeat at Motherwell.Supporters sang anti-Hearts songs before moving on to more personal chants about McInnes after he confirmed both clubs had agreed a deal for him to move to Tynecastle.That switch is expected ...
Leyton Orient held their nerve in a penalty shootout to reach the League One play-off final after a gripping semi-final battle with Stockport.Jack Diamond and Ryan Rydel missed from 12 yards as Orient prevailed 4-1 on spot-kicks after an absorbing tie had ended 3-3 on aggregate following a breathless 1-1 draw at Edgeley Park.Ollie O’Neill had fired Orient ahead after just three minutes but S...
Airdrieonians took an advantage in the first leg of the Scottish Championship play-off final with a 2-1 victory over Cove at Balmoral Stadium.The visitors relied on a set-piece to put themselves in front with right-back Dylan MacDonald rising highest off a corner to nod in Adam Frizzell’s delivery after 16 minutes.The lead did not last long however with Lewis McGrattan’s own goal after...
Ronan Hale’s controversial stoppage-time penalty kept alive Ross County’s hopes of avoiding the relegation play-offs as they drew 1-1 at fellow strugglers Dundee.The Dark Blues took the lead in the second half through Scott Tiffoney and seemed on course to secure their William Hill Premiership status.But deep in added time Hale salvaged a point for the Staggies from the spot after Ryan...
- 1 Richie Wellens hails Leyton Orient’s ‘outstanding’ victory over Stockport
- 2 Man Utd are losing the feeling of being a massive club – Ruben Amorim
- 3 Eddie Howe tells Newcastle to ‘drive forward’ and seal Champions League spot
- 4 Rangers thump Aberdeen to end five-match winless streak at Ibrox
- 5 Newcastle beat 10-man Chelsea to take step towards Champions League spot
- 6 Leyton Orient book Wembley date by beating Stockport on penalties
- 7 Albanian Laura Woods goes braless in pink top
- 8 AFC Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson wary of Notts County fightback in second leg
- 9 World’s sexiest tennis influencer Rachel Stuhlmann in leggy
- 10 Brendan Rodgers hits out at ‘needless challenge’ on Reo Hatate