Stubbs: Rangers' Lead Is Fragile

Hibernian boss Alan Stubbs has ramped up the mind games with Stuart McCall after insisting Rangers must deal with the "worst scoreline in football".

The Glaswegians will travel to Easter Road on Saturday for the second leg of their Scottish Premiership play-off semi-final carrying a 2-0 lead.

But Stubbs claims Gers boss McCall could be left pondering whether to stick or twist as he plots his tactics.

He told Radio Clyde: "We know we have to try and get back in the game. We know we have to score at least two goals.

"But sometimes that can make it a lot easier as we know exactly what we have to do.

"I'd obviously prefer to be in Stuart's shoes and have a two-goal lead but I've been in football long enough to know that 2-0 can be quite a vulnerable scoreline.

"It's the worst scoreline in football because if you lose one goal the opposition are back in the game. Then suddenly the doubt starts to creep in.

"So you have to decide whether to defend your lead or try to get another goal.

"It's got the makings of a really exciting game tomorrow but I honestly feel we can win the game. I believe in my players and I know they have a big performance in them."

Stubbs briefly showed his hackles after Wednesday's first leg as he rejected claims his side were "bottlers".

And he again launched into an impassioned defence of his players as he dismissed question marks over the strength of his side's resolve.

"My usual response to these comments is 'blah, blah, blah'," he said. "You can get a bit bored with it at times when really it is not relevant.

"I don't read the papers so I don't let it bother me. The only time I hear it is at press conferences.

"To be honest it annoys me at times because I work with the players week in, week out. When someone uses comments like 'bottlers' or 'chokers', that then becomes personal.

"When people don't know individuals but then use those kind of labels, I find it hard to take. I know these guys and they are certainly not bottlers or chokers.

"I'd like to see the people who say these things run out in front of 40,000 or 50,000 people and see how they react."