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Rangers boss Stuart McCall to give his players a day off

Stuart McCall: Rangers manager celebrates after win over Hibs
Image: Stuart McCall: Rangers manager celebrates after win over Hibs

Rangers boss Stuart McCall has decided to reward his players with a day off as they prepare for the Scottish Premiership play-off final against Motherwell.

McCall’s side lost 1-0 to Hibernian in the second leg of the semi-final at Easter Road after conceding a stoppage-time goal from Jason Cummings, but progressed 2-1 on aggregate.

The Ibrox side are just two games away from clinching a place in the top-flight by earning a third successive promotion.

Former Motherwell manager McCall will now prepare his team for the first leg at home on Thursday as the end of a hectic campaign approaches.

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Rangers will play Motherwell in the play-off final after a 2-1 aggregate win over Hibernian.

Rangers, who finished third in the Championship behind Hibs and runaway winners Hearts, have now played four games in 14 days after also overcoming Queen of the South in the play-offs.

"The good thing is the first game isn't until Thursday," McCall said. "The lads have just heard two words they've not heard for months - 'day off'.

"They won't be in tomorrow (Sunday) and even they are surprised at that.

"But Murray Park has fantastic facilities. They will get massaged, they will get looked after and will be ready to go on Thursday.

"They have got all June to be tired. We're not celebrating now, we're too tired to celebrate. We've done nothing yet, we've just given ourselves an opportunity."

McCall will make his return to Fir Park for the second leg on Sunday, seven months after quitting as Motherwell boss to be replaced by Ian Baraclough.

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Rangers will play Motherwell in the play-off final after a 2-1 aggregate win over Hibernian.

The Rangers manager admits facing his old side is a "nightmare scenario" but is determined not to let his emotional dilemma divert focus away from the task of leading his current club into the Scottish Premiership.

McCall said: "I was absolutely gutted when they finished 11th, if I'm being honest. When Ian brought seven or eight players in back in January, I thought they would be nowhere near 11th.

"But I haven't given it a second thought since then. It's not about me - it's about the players.

"There was no favourites between us and Queen of the South and it proved that way with the tight scoreline. It was exactly the same with us and Hibs and it will be the same with Motherwell.

"We just need to make sure the lads are ready for two huge games for the club."

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