Cardoso: We need to raise our game

FABIO CARDOSO admits Rangers must improve if they are to overcome Partick Thistle at the second time of asking on Tuesday night.

The Light Blues dropped another two Premiership points on Friday as they had to come from behind to earn a draw at the Energy Check at Firhill Stadium.

Alfredo Morelos gave Pedro Caixinha’s side a dream start against the Jags but Rangers couldn’t capitalise on their early advantage.

Blair Spittal curled home a free-kick to pull Thistle level before Chris Erskine put the hosts on course for a famous derby win.

A red card for Erskine gave the Gers hope and Graham Dorrans salvaged a share of the spoils with a terrific strike 13 minutes from time.

But it was a frustrating night for boss Caixinha Fabio Cardos has vowed improvement and his players as they failed to make the most of their chance to go top of the Premiership standings.

Rangers will now return to Firhill for a Betfred Cup quarter-final clash and defender Cardoso knows they must raise their performance levels at both ends of the park.

“It was a hard game and we can’t commit mistakes like that,” he told RangersTV. “We scored two goals and with two goals scored we can’t lose the game.

“We committed a lot of defensive mistakes and we can’t. We have to do better on Tuesday.

“We have to control the game because teams start very strong against us.

“We have to start stronger and we have to improve in the next games.

“After we conceded the second goal, we tried the whole game to score. We scored one but we needed two.”