McInnes backs Ally for success

29 July 2011 13:50
Derek McInnes is in no doubt that Ally McCoist will go on to enjoy success as Rangers manager despite his tricky start to life in the hotseat.[LNB] Questions are being asked of McCoist after only two games following the home draw against Hearts in the SPL opener last week, and the 1-0 defeat to Malmo in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier at Ibrox in midweek.[LNB]St Johnstone boss McInnes is an ex-Rangers team-mate of the Light Blues' legend and will face him as a contemporary for the first time at McDiarmid Park on Saturday when the two sides meet in the SPL.[LNB]And he has no doubt that McCoist, who moved up from assistant when Walter Smith stepped down at the end of last season, will prove to be every bit as good a Rangers manager as he was a striker for the club.[LNB]"Ally McCoist is definitely going to be a success, he is going to be a top manager and to question him and the players is ridiculous," McInnes said.[LNB]"Both Old Firm managers are under pressure to win every game.[LNB]"If you lose one game you get criticised, if you lose the next game the criticism is 10-fold.[LNB]"The over-reaction has been ridiculous. They can get beat, it does happen.[LNB]"We beat Rangers when they were 10 points clear at the top of the league and the criticism of Walter Smith was unbelievable.[LNB]"Ally hasn't got the start he wanted but you don't always get that.[LNB]"The early start to the season means clubs are not settled yet.[LNB]"It is a transition period with one or two players set to move out and one or two, at least, coming in.[LNB]"But I don't think you can question the quality of the manager or his players."[LNB]McInnes joked that the new pitch which has been laid at McDiarmid Park has robbed him of an excuse for poor performances.[LNB]"We have a new pitch and it is like night and day from last season," said the former Dundee United and West Brom midfielder.[LNB]"It was horrific. There were drainage problems and a poor winter didn't help.[LNB]"But anyone who's seen the last game here last season will see a huge difference tomorrow.[LNB]"The only thing is, I can't use the pitch as an excuse now - I will need to find something else."[LNB]"It is the first home game of the season and we look forward to it," added McInnes.[LNB]"It was a decent point at Aberdeen last week and being the away side it was a better point for us than them.[LNB]"We are quite happy, we are still trying to assemble a squad but we are better placed than most.[LNB]"We have to remind ourselves this is what we were looking forward to during all the hard years in the First Division.[LNB]"The game is live on television against one of the Old Firm sides and we are ready for it."

Source: Team_Talk