The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Warburton praises Gers after matching Premiership Killie
Mark Warburton insists his Rangers side do not need the confidence from a good cup performance against Kilmarnock at Ibrox on Saturday.
The Championship leaders lost 3-1 at home to St Johnstone in their League Cup clash at Ibrox in September but it appeared lessons had been learned despite their William Hill Scottish Cup fifth-round tie against Killie at Ibrox ending goalless and the home side failing to score for the first time since the former Brentford boss took over last summer.
The Light Blues had the upper hand for most of the game and both right-back James Tavernier and defender Danny Wilson hit the woodwork while 27-goal striker Martyn Waghorn passed up a great chance late on, before Rugby Park substitute Kallum Higginbotham was shown a straight red card in the final minute for a challenge on Tavernier.
Asked what that type of performance might do for his side’s confidence, the Rangers manager said :“There was never any lack of confidence about playing a top-flight team.
“The gap is not as it is down south because of the financial climate (down there). The gap is far closer and we showed that today.
“We had some questions to prove in terms of the physical threat they posed, dealing with the counter, which we did very well, and then showing quality on the ball and thought we did that as well.”
Player-coach Lee McCulloch took charge of Killie for the first time since Gary Locke resigned last week.
The former Rangers player, who was happy with the positive reception he got from the home fans, was not inspired to put his hat into the ring for the job on a permanent basis.
McCulloch put the replay on February 16 at Rugby Park on the back burner as the Ayrshire side look to get off second bottom spot in the Premiership.
He said: “It is all about next week where we have a pretty big match against Motherwell.”