Source: Team_Talk
McInnes applauds battling Gers
The St Johnstone boss was at Hampden to see his former club outplayed by St Mirren until second-half dismissals of Kevin Thomson and Danny Wilson tested[LNB]the battling qualities of the Ibrox men, who were rewarded for their tenacity with a late and dramatic Kenny Miller winner.[LNB]McInnes, who played at Ibrox between 1995 and 2000, admits the type of display shown by the Light Blues typified the difference between the Old Firm and the rest of the clubs in Scottish football.[LNB]"At this point in time, I don't think any other team in Scotland could have gone down to nine men and still won," he said.[LNB]"When they lost two players a lot of other characteristics took over, they showed their winning mentality.[LNB]"I was at the game and it seems ridiculous to say it but when it was eleven against eleven, St Mirren were the better team.[LNB]"But when Rangers lost the two players, the pressure was then put on St Mirren to produce something.[LNB]"Rangers had a lot to deal with but they have the mentality to go on and win, they are used to getting over the line.[LNB]"For most other clubs a draw away from home in a league game is a good result.[LNB]"But no matter where Rangers and Celtic go, apart from to each other's ground, they are expected to win.[LNB]"That expectancy can be hard for any player who joins one of the Old Firm clubs."[LNB]McInnes, though, is confident that his players have the mental strength to recover from their 3-0 defeat by Celtic on Saturday.[LNB]A patched-up Saints side never looked as if they could trouble Tony Mowbray's side but the St Johnstone boss backed his players to respond against bottom side Falkirk at McDiarmid Park.[LNB]"It is disappointing if you lose a game no matter who you are playing against," he said.[LNB]"But we needed to go to Celtic Park with our strongest team to do well.[LNB]"Any team who has 10 players or so unavailable, as we had, would struggle.[LNB]"I couldn't enjoy the game for thinking about getting more injuries.[LNB]"We wanted to be more positive and ask questions but we didn't disgrace ourselves.[LNB]"We have only lost two on the spin twice this season, when we have been beaten we have always fought back and got as result.[LNB]"We have the right types in our dressing room and long may it continue."[LNB][LNB]
