Carlos hits Saints with old uno-dos
PEDRO CAIXINHA hailed Rangers’ performance in last night’s win over St Johnstone as the best of his seven months in charge. And the Light Blues boss challenged his players to reproduce their display against Motherwell at Hampden next Sunday to book a place in the Betfred Cup Final. A double from Carlos Pena – his fourth goal in as many starts – and a strike from Graham Dorrans sealed a win
at McDiarmid Park. St Johnstone skipper Steven Anderson was sent off for a second yellow card with the visitors leading just 1-0.
Gers took full advantage and moved to within three points of joint Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic and Aberdeen, who are both in action today.
The win over Tommy Wright’s men also maintains Caixinha’s unbeaten run on the road in the league and sets the Light Blues up for their last-four clash with Well.
Victory at the National Stadium would make it three wins on the trot for the first time under the Portuguese boss.
He said: “It was the best collective performance since we arrived. It was very compact. Everybody knowing at the same time what they needed to do.
“Quality and keeping possessions, attacking spaces when it was needed – and fighting collectively and defensively. And the cherry on the top of the cake is a clean sheet.
“We want the team to perform like this all the time, knowing how to make the team very balanced in every position.
“Motherwell is the biggest game of the season because it’s a knockout.
“It would be great to reach a final so early in the season. That’s our focus. We know we need to keep working hard.
“The boys are understanding the process more, getting a better confidence and trust in the process.
“The boys are going to have three days off and so am I. I’m closing the store and not going to think about football.
“Tuesday and Wednesday we have all the information on Motherwell and will work on that.”
Pena has been criticised for failing to the hit the heights since his £2.5million move from Chivas.
But Caixinha said: “He might be showing everyone in Scotland what he can do but I know what type of player he is.
“We all know some players need more
time to get adapted. He is maybe at 70 per cent but he is a strong boy and I know what he’s capable of. He showed just a little bit today.”
Caixinha insisted Kenny Miller had a slight injury and was left out as a precaution after the veteran striker was sent to play with the Under-20s during the international break following a stormy squad summit.
But the build-up to last night’s game was dominated by a war of words between the rival bosses and Caixinha said: “I saluted him after the game.”
Wright added: “He was out late so I didn’t get to shake hands before the game. I shook hands after the game.
“I don’t know if he’s coming in for a beer. If he doesn’t, it’s more chicken for me to eat!”
Anderson was booked for going head-to-head with Alfredo Morelos at a corner, with Bruno Alves also booked during a melee, and then pulled the Colombian back for his second yellow.
Wright said: “It totally changes the game. I’ve seen the first yellow card. If there is a level of consistency, there should be a dozen yellow cards at corner kicks.
“Steven just backs into Alves, which he’s entitled to do, not using any arms. Alves pulls him out of the way – he’s the aggressor.
“Anderson tries to go back in and he’s blocked off. The referee decides on a yellow when he could just give a warning.
“For the second yellow, Ando should know better. There was minimum contact but Morelos goes down.
“I was pleased with how we played but not pleased with the result. For 70 minutes we were slightly the better side.”