Rangers youngster Andrew Little hailed his goal against Kilmarnock as the best of his career - and admitted it rescued him from a poor performance on the night.
The 21-year-old was drafted into the side for Wednesday night's Co-operative Insurance Cup quarter-final as boss Walter Smith made five changes from Sunday's Old Firm derby win. And, despite admitting he did not hit top form, he ensured the manager will remember him for all the right reasons with a lovely strike to set the holders on their way to a 2-0 win.
Little said: "I loved it. It was probably the best, and the most memorable, goal I've ever scored in my career. It's just as well I scored it as I wasn't playing too well. The occasion makes it extra special. I probably scored goals like that when I was 14 or 15 but never on a stage like this. It was a really, really special feeling."
He added: "Goals are going to win games and it's the best feeling you can have so I was delighted to score.
"I was a bit disappointed with how I played and the whole team generally could have played a lot better but we got a result and that's all that matters."
Smith turned to several youngsters for the tie at Rugby Park, although his plans were hampered when Kyle Lafferty and Andy Webster were ruled out through illness and injury respectively ahead of the match.
While Little and Steven Naismith both found the back of the net for Rangers, Kilmarnock spurned a number of chances.
Asked if he was concerned about a lack of cutting edge in front of goal, boss Mixu Paatelainen said: "It doesn't happen overnight.
"We can't go out and buy million pound players who are tried and tested at putting the ball in the back of the net when the chance comes along.
"Our job is to develop those boys that we have and improve them as goalscorers. The positive thing is that we are creating loads of chances so we will carry on."
Source: PA
