McCoist stays positive

Rangers manager Ally McCoist maintained a positive attitude despite a 1-0 home loss to Kilmarnock on Saturday.

The result – sealed by Dean Shiels’ 12th-minute goal – capped a disastrous week for Rangers, who went into administration on Tuesday and were deducted 10 points.

Despite trailing league leaders Celtic by 14 points, McCoist said his side will keep fighting in their bid to win a fourth Scottish Premier League title in a row.

“I am very realistic and what I will assure every supporter is that we will do our best to win every game before the end of the season,” McCoist told BBC Scotland.

“I’m certainly not going to hand anything over at this stage.”

McCoist was disappointed with his side’s first half but felt their efforts after the break were promising enough.

“I said to the boys, if they perform with the same grit and determination as we did in the second half, we will be fine, but we could not get going in the first half,” he said.

“I was a lot happier with their attitude and desire in the second half and that is what we need from now until the end of the season.”

“The lads know what we are faced with and the only way we can get out of it is hard work.”

Celtic can move 17 points clear if they win at Hibernian on Sunday.