Rangers have answered their critics, says Mark Warburton
Saturday 3 December 2016 19:44, UK
Rangers manager Mark Warburton feels his players thoroughly answered "nonsense" criticism in the club's 2-1 victory over Aberdeen.
The victory took Rangers to second in the table, with Clint Hill and Aberdeen captain Ryan Jack sent off in stoppage time before Andrew Considine registered a late consolation for the Dons.
Warburton's players had been widely criticised after a tame 2-0 defeat at Hearts on Wednesday but the Gers boss argued afterwards that his players answered all questions in Saturday's performance.
"The players were more than irked by comments made about them, by comments questioning their battling qualities and their desire," said Warburton. "More than irked would be a polite way of putting it.
"But they responded really well, there was a lot of nonsense written about them and they more than answered those questions.
"We thought they would come on and press us having seen the Wednesday game, which they did. They pushed Shay Logan on to Lee [Wallace] and went one on one at the back and we had to be brave.
"We said 'if we have to go long early stages, go long'. Joe Garner is aerially very strong so if we have to go long and change it, do that and beat the press that way. We were happy with it.
"First half nobody really controlled the game, it was pretty neutral. Lee Wallace had a great chance, great movement from Lee and unlucky not to get the goal. But second half we stepped on and won second balls and I felt we deserved to win the game."
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes was bitterly disappointed following the game, cursing his side's finishing and defending when it mattered most.
"From penalty box to penalty box I thought we were the better team," said McInnes.
"I thought we really got after Rangers, we pressed them high, we were competitive, we were winning tackles, we were fully committed. I thought we stopped a good team, a team who like to pass and play and move the ball and test your organisation. I thought we really frustrated them.
"But we said to the players at half-time, it was important in the final third to carry more of a threat ourselves. We got in good areas and rushed that last wee bit.
"We had more opportunities to apply pressure with the ball rather than just without the ball, and Rangers scored when we were having our best spell.
"We started the second half really on the front foot, we passed and moved the ball well, got into good areas, still should be doing more with it, but Jayden's is clearly the one we all remember.
"It was a good stand-up from Jonny and Jayden would normally eat that type of service up, but he misses. It happens but unfortunately for us it was very pivotal."
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