The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Gers ‘weren’t quite up to’ test set by Burnley
RANGERS: Centre-back Wilson admits side will have to be sharper
Rangers centre-back Danny Wilson is determined to fight for his place as boss Mark Warburton prepares to step up his search for defensive reinforcements.
The Gers manager is still on the hunt for both a centre-back and striker, but will make finding extra cover for his back-line the priority after Saturday’s humbling friendly defeat to Burnley.
Clarets frontman Andre Gray made the most of chinks in the Light Blues’ armour by bagging a hat-trick in a 3-1 victory at Ibrox.
Wilson and team-mate Rob Kiernan were Rangers’ first-choice pairing in the centre of defence last season, but were not always convincing.
Former QPR defender Clint Hill arrived this summer among a batch of nine new signings but he was caught out for two of Gray’s goals on Saturday, and Warburton is looking for another option ahead of his side’s Ladbrokes Premiership curtain-raiser with Hamilton on Saturday.
Wilson knows any new arrival will put his place at risk, but believes increased competition will only help raise his game.
He said: “Last season we were a little bit light and a few boys took their position for granted because there wasn’t really the numbers there.
“But we’ve already brought in more defenders so that means more competition. That can only be healthy for us all.
“Whoever the manager brings in, I’ll be looking to do the best I can to keep myself in the side.
“This is a big club and we should be expecting competition and looking to thrive on it because we want to be the best we can be.”
Wilson admits Gers will need to be sharper than they were against Sean Dyche’s team.
“That was an ideal test before next week,” the former Hearts captain said. “After the build-up we’ve had, this was always going to be the test, and we weren’t quite up to it.”
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