Rangers manager Graeme Murty has said that this weekend’s tie with Hearts will be completely different to the game earlier in the season.
Rangers took a three one victory at Murrayfield earlier in the season and it was our then caretaker gaffer’s first match in charge as he saw Kenny Miller hit a brace and Josh Windass get himself on the scoresheet.
Going into this weekend’s tie at Ibrox though, Murty is expecting a completely different type of game.
Speaking to the Official Site as he met with the media on Friday to preview the game, Murty explained.
‘It`s very different – there are different capacities and different capabilities, but, the message is still going to be the same. It is about the players walking out onto the football pitch fully prepped and able to give their best.’
Murty went on to say.
‘I think you have seen a difference in style, but once again, the message is about the players walking out onto the football pitch, taking responsibility and contributing, and I think you have seen different people step up at different times. It was Kenny Miller at Murrayfield, and Josh, and there are other people who have stepped forward and taken responsibility recently.’
With the five three victory over Hamilton Academical last weekend, Murty was adamant we certainly wouldn’t see a repeat of that kind of defensive showing although he’d welcome similar on an attacking front.
‘I expect it to be tighter than last weekend – I don`t expect there to be eight goals – and I expect it to be a real challenge. The guys are prepped, the guys are ready, and the guys are in a good place at the moment, so we need to make sure we continue that mood. All games are physical games – whether it comes down to a physical challenge or the physical effort you have to put in to get away from an opponent, they are all physical. But the guys are ready, they have put good work in this week, and, as I have said, the mood around the group and the work-rate around the group has been excellent so far.’
With selection options being high for the gaffer, he was pleased with the choices he had ahead of him and he backed whoever was selected to do their job, such is his confidence in the entire group.
‘We are confident with the options we have and the players we have, we can cause any team in this league problems with the way that we move with the ball, the way we shift it and the individuals within that structure can cause anyone problems. It`s down to us to make sure we make good decisions at the right time and we will see what will be. We looked at the structure when we gave the goals away – it was very, very similar to the areas where we had the Launchpad to launch attacks from. So we have to make sure that we understand what our structure needs to look like, and the quality and clarity of our play.’
Murty went on to say to try and prove the point.
‘If you look at our fourth goal, the passing through the lines, dealing with the pressure and the quality of the play, would have got us out the situation where we concede the second goal. It`s just about understanding when and where to play, how to do it and we reiterated that to the players this week.’
In terms of an injury update, he went on to explained.
‘Lee Wallace is back in full training, but I think it is possibly too early for him – he needs to complete more volume and get himself closer to our level. It`s great and he is moving on. Bruno is in contention to be selected, other than that, the rest of the guys are as they were.’
