Pedro Caixinha urges Rangers' players 'to relax more'

Pedro Caixinha believes his Rangers team are "trying too hard at times" and says they "need to relax more".

The manager's comments followed their 3-1 extra-time victory over Partick Thistle on Tuesday, which earned them a place in Thursday's semi-final draw of the Scottish League Cup, sponsored by Betfred.

The Gers missed a great opportunity to reach the last four in normal time, with Daniel Candeias wasting a good chance when he took the ball around Thistle 'keeper Ryan Scully but failed to hit the target.

The Portuguese player made amends in extra time by netting their second goal before Eduardo Herrara completed the scoring a few minutes later.

Caixinha said: "You can see the boys are working really hard. When the second goal doesn't come, they try too hard and maybe they rush the final pass.

"They need to slow down. Daniel's chance is what I am talking about. He was rushing too much.

"You could see the confidence after we went two goals up in extra time."

Carlos Pena had earlier given the Ibrox team the lead in the 55th minute and, after Candeias had failed to convert a big chance, Kris Doolan levelled matters in the final few minutes of normal time.

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Caixinha's opposite number Alan Archibald said of the game at the Firhill Stadium: "Disappointment is the over-riding emotion.

"I'm a bit bemused, I didn't see that coming at the start of extra time.

"I thought we finished the game really strongly. Probably the worst thing that could have happened was the final whistle because I felt we were strong and Rangers were sitting off us. I thought we deserved our goal at the time."