Friday 29 May 2015 07:33, UK
Stuart McCall admitted Rangers turned in their poorest performance of his tenure as they were beaten 3-1 by Motherwell in the first leg of their SPFL Premiership play-off final.
The Ibrox team began brightly and had good opportunities to go ahead through Marius Zaliukas and Kenny Miller in the opening exchanges.
Instead they fell behind when Lee Erwin’s shot was deflected in by Darren McGregor and further strikes from Stephen McManus and Lionel Ainsworth put the visitors in control.
McGregor’s late header gives Rangers a glimmer of hope going into the second leg at Fir Park on Sunday but McCall knows his players face an uphill task.
The defeat was his team’s second in a row but only the third he has endured in 17 games since taking temporary charge in March.
McCall said: "I was pretty pleased with how we started but I think in possession of the ball that's probably as poor as we've been since I have been at the football club and I’m disappointed.
"We are better than that on the ball and we didn't create enough until late on in the game. It's so frustrating but take nothing away from Motherwell.
“I thought they hit us on the break well. I'm sure had they played like that for the majority of the season they wouldn't have finished 11th.
"We gave the ball away cheaply too much. I cannot criticise the players because they've given everything since I've been here and have done well in the majority of the games.
"But tonight too many of us had off-nights. Darren's goal gives us a lifeline but Motherwell will be clear favourites and quite rightly so.”
Rangers have gone into the second leg of their previous two play-off ties in front and have been able to progress despite not winning their return contests.
Now they will have to take the game to Motherwell at the weekend rather than see out an advantage and McCall intends to go on the offensive.
He added: “The first goal on Sunday will be crucial and we've got to aim to get it. What we have to do is go and have a real go. We know we are out at this stage.
"We know if it was a cup final we would not get a second chance but we still have one and while you have a second chance in football, you have got to go and do everything you can.
"It will be interesting if we do go and get that first goal - but obviously then we need to go get another."
