Source: team_talk
Alexander: Rangers must improve
Goalkeeper Neil Alexander insists Rangers must improve quickly after a lacklustre display against Forres Mechanics in the Scottish Cup.
The Highland League champions were reduced to 10 men following a red card for Nathan Sharp in the second half of the second-round tie at Mosset Park.
But Rangers only just managed to scrape through in the end thanks to a first-half Kal Naismith goal, with the home side perhaps unfortunate not to claim the leveller that would have earned a lucrative replay at Ibrox.
Alexander said: "If I'm being brutally honest, it was a poor performance away from home again from us.
"I think the only positive we can take out of the game is that we're in the next round.
"We knew it was going to be hard, it's a tough place to come to.
"They came out with all guns blazing and made it really hard for us to play.
"All credit to them, maybe in all honesty, they deserved something out of the game.
"We thought we would create all the pressure and maybe score three, four, five goals.
"But we just didn't get to grips with the game and that's all credit to them - I thought they were fantastic.
"We kept giving away free-kicks and letting them put pressure on us.
"We found it hard to get any real rhythm to our game and we didn't really create any opportunities and work their goalie.
"I think I was probably the harder-worked goalie, which shouldn't be.
"We should be coming to these teams and scoring a lot of goals and putting on a show. It didn't happen for whatever reason.
"We have to go and look at ourselves in the mirror once again and put it right on the training ground."
Ally McCoist branded the efforts of Rangers simply not good enough in his post-match press conference following the clash in the Highlands.
And Alexander revealed how the Light Blues boss made sure his players were left in no doubt that they were not up to scratch on the day.
The Gers number one said: "In midweek, we played exceptionally well against a very good Motherwell team.
"Then, in what should have been the easier game, we failed to turn up.
"We were very disappointed in the dressing room and the manager has given us a right rollicking.
"We know it's not acceptable and we have to work on it in training and try to correct the mistakes that the performances are bringing."
