Naismith: Don't blame McLeish

23 September 2011 17:10
Steven Naismith insists Rangers' shock Scottish League Cup exit to Falkirk had nothing to do with manager Ally McCoist's team selection.[LNB] McCoist made four changes from the side which defeated Celtic just a few days earlier, with Naismith among those dropping out of the team for Wednesday's 3-2 loss.[LNB]Naismith and Nikica Jelavic did come off the bench for the midweek clash but were unable to rescue the holders from an early exit from the tournament.[LNB]However, the midfielder claims Rangers should have a strong enough squad to cope with any game regardless of the starting XI and admits the team as a whole simply did not perform on the night.[LNB]He said: "To be honest, players here have to expect that they're good enough. They can't come here and want to be a bit-part player.[LNB]"Whatever team the manager plays at any time throughout the season, they've got to be good enough to play. If they're not, they shouldn't be here.[LNB]"It should be an opportunity for players who come in but I wouldn't say it's just down to the players who came into the team.[LNB]"As a team, we weren't good enough. We've definitely got a strong enough squad, we've got a stronger squad now than we had a year ago."[LNB]Naismith believes one of the disappointing aspects of the defeat to Falkirk was the failure to build on what had been an impressive triumph in Sunday's Old Firm derby.[LNB]He said: "The other night was really disappointing off the back of an Old Firm win.[LNB]"Now we just need to look at hopefully not destroying the whole week by letting all our good work last weekend go to waste by not picking up the points tomorrow.[LNB]"We would have hoped, having played so well against Celtic, that we could have carried it on against Falkirk but it was really disappointing not to.[LNB]"Celtic is one of the glamour games of the season I suppose. But we have enough boys here who know that cup games can be like that, Falkirk can make it difficult for you.[LNB]"On the night we didn't move the ball fast enough, we didn't create enough chances and that's probably what cost us."[LNB]Naismith now wants Rangers to recapture the form they showed against Celtic when they take on Dunfermline in the Scottish Premier League on Saturday.[LNB]He said: "That's the first time we have really played a full 90 minutes well.[LNB]"We have played in patches from the start of the season and we hope now we can push on and build a bit of momentum in the league.[LNB]"That starts tomorrow. We know it will be tough with Dunfermline just back in the league again.[LNB]"In the first couple of weeks they maybe had a few results they weren't happy with but they have pushed on from there and they are starting to score a lot of goals and are getting at teams as well.[LNB]"We know it's going to be a really tough game, we're not doubting that, but we let it slip on Wednesday night and we can't afford to do that again. I'm sure the coaches will have that drilled into us."

Source: Team_Talk