McCoist disappointed with red cards

04 August 2011 07:30

Manager Ally McCoist expressed his disappointment at Steven Whittaker and Madjid Bougherra for picking up red cards as Rangers crashed out of the Champions League to Malmo on Wednesday night.

The Ibrox duo were dismissed on either side of the interval, before Ricardinho was also sent off for the Swedes, who progressed to the play-off stages thanks to a 1-1 draw on the night and a 2-1 win on aggregate.

"I haven't seen the red cards again. I would have to say, I'm disappointed in the players for giving the ref the opportunity to get a red card but, to be honest, I haven't seen them again," said McCoist.

"I'll have a good look at them. What we said at half-time, looking at how the game was going, was that we thought there was a possibility that the referee might send somebody else off.

"Overall, I'm very disappointed that the players gave the referee the opportunity to send them off."

McCoist also admitted the qualifier in Sweden could be Bougherra's last game as a Rangers player, with the defender set for a £1.7million move to Qatar outfit Lekhwiya.

Asked if he expects Bougherra to head for the exit door, McCoist said: "Honestly I don't know but I would have to say judging by the comments coming from the other side, I would think that looks like a possibility."

The Rangers boss was keen to focus on the efforts of the rest of his players after Nikica Jelavic cancelled out Daniel Larsson's strike from the first leg in Glasgow, before Jiloan Hamad grabbed the tie's decisive goal late on.

McCoist said: "I can't tell you enough how disappointed I am for the vast majority of the players because I thought there were some really terrific performances from some of the Rangers players.

"But it's a team game. Your individual talent can win you games but you win and lose as a team and, unfortunately, it wasn't to be for our nine men."

Source: PA