Ally: Gers must carry on regardless

Rangers manager Ally McCoist has told his players to keep focusing on improvement on the park amid continuing problems off it.

McCoist lamented some inexcusable'' defending after Rangers twice came from behind to beat Queen of the South 4-2 at Ibrox on Saturday.

Some of the 31,851 crowd held up red cards in a protest against the board after 18 and 72 minutes, following the latest revelation of the club's fragile finances on Friday.

The Rangers board admitted they would be unable to pay their creditors if they do not raise #4million in a share issue, sparking fears they could be heading for administration.

McCoist refused to discuss the issue at his pre-match media conference and he later praised his players for maintaining their focus, although he was critical of their first-half display.

The Rangers boss said: I have to say I congratulate my players for the last two or three years. If they have wanted an excuse or to look over their shoulders for an issue or two that's been happening around the club or involving the club, there's been massive opportunity for them to do that. They haven't done it.

They are a fantastic squad of boys - they really are. I do salute them for concentrating their efforts 100 per cent on getting the job done which is winning games and hopefully entertaining the support at the same time.

That's the job they have done in the past two or three years and we as staff are extremely grateful for them to doing that, but they have to keep doing it.

You have just got to blank it out. It can't become an issue because if we lose track or focus on the job we have to do, then the game's a bogey.''

Rangers were only jolted into life after Gavin Reilly gave Queens the lead midway through the first half, with the home side being cut open by two passes,

the first coming from centre-back Mark Durnan and the second from Dan Carmichael.

Marius Zaliukas headed home an equaliser following a corner five minutes later but the Lithuanian's mistake allowed Iain Russell in to make it 2-1.

Zaliukas was hauled off for Ian Black at the interval as Lee McCulloch joined Bilel Mohsni in central defence and another half-time substitute, David Templeton, lashed a left-footed shot into the top corner from 20 yards to equalise within 60 seconds of the restart.

Mohsni atoned for his shaky first-half display by heading the Gers in front on 64 minutes following a corner and Kenny Miller came on for the injured Templeton to notch his first goal of the season as Rangers remained three points behind leaders Hearts in the Scottish Championship table.

Queens manager Jim McIntyre lost Derek Lyle to a head wound to add to an already lengthy injury list which saw him without seven first-team players.

McIntyre said: The injury situation is well documented but I thought the players gave a great account of themselves.

We fell out of the game a little bit in the second half but you have to remember the level of player Rangers have here.''