McCoist Heartened By McLeod Return

Pic: Jeff Holmes

Rangers boss Ally McCoist hailed comeback kid Lewis Macleod after the midfielder ended seven months out of the game with the opening goal in their 2-1 win over Hibernian. The 20-year-old playmaker disappeared from the first-team scene at Ibrox last January after a viral issue caused complications with the muscles around his heart. But he was a lone shining light amid a lacklustre Light Blues display on his return as he rifled home the 14th minute opener in their Petrofac Training Cup first round clash at Ibrox. McCoist said:"I was really encouraged by Lewis. It was a big concern for the lad when he was out but he's enjoying himself. It broke his heart not to be playing but he's back now and he is like a new player for us. "He's learning all the time and there's still improvement to come but we are thrilled with him. We want him to get goals for us and he did that tonight." McCoist handed Kris Boyd and Kenny Miller their second Ibrox debuts as well as Govan bows for fellow summer recruits Darren McGregor and Marius Zaliukas. New Hibs boss Alan Stubbs, meanwhile, had three of his new signings on show as Mark Oxley, David Gray and Farid El Alagui started, with former Dundee United midfielder Scott Allan a late substitute off the bench. Rangers started well but a sloppy spell allowed Danny Handling to level Macleod's low strike on the hour mark. Zaliukas gifted possession and when Gray's cross bounced off McGregor, Handling blasted past Cammy Bell. Hibs were on top and should have finished off one of three chances that fell to Sam Stanton and Farid El Alagui. But when Handling was sent off after clattering into David Templeton with 11 minutes left, that gave Rangers the edge as the game went into extra time and Nicky Law sealed the win for the hosts as he swept home a well-placed shot. "We can do better and we will do better", said McCoist after his team booked a second-round meeting with former Ibrox skipper Barry Ferguson's new Clyde outfit. "There's no doubt about that. "But we're in the hat for the next round and that's the main thing. We were better in the first half but Hibs played very well for about 20 minutes in the second half. We took our goals really well but we were sloppy for their equaliser. "So there's room for improvement but I'm delighted with the result." The match was Stubbs' first competitive game in charge but already there are signs the Easter Road side have moved on from the disastrous reigns of Pat Fenlon and Terry Butcher which saw them relegated to the Championship. They will now do battle for promotion with Rangers and city rivals Hearts but Stubbs is already feeling optimistic. He said: "I have worked with the players for the last six weeks and this was where we were going to learn about them as individuals and as a team. They showed everything I had hoped. "They showed a lot of courage to get on the ball and I felt they dictated the play at times. I thought they were cool and calm in possession. I thought we dominated possession. "Coming to Ibrox and doing that, no matter what the Rangers team is at this time, takes a lot of guts. "Look at the performance. Why should we fear anyone when we can play like that? We have come a long way in a short space of time and we will get better."