Manager Ally McCoist delighted with Rangers youngsters
Last updated on .From the section Football
Rangers manager Ally McCoist praised his younger players following the 3-0 win over Motherwell at Fir Park.
Jordan McMillan and Ross Perry were drafted into defence to cover for injuries and winger Gregg Wylde scored his first senior goal.
"We have to nurture our younger players," McCoist told BBC Scotland.
"We can't get carried away, it's one game, that's all it is, but it's a step in the right direction for some of the younger boys."
With Kirk Broadfoot, Steven Whittaker, Sasa Papac, Kyle Bartley and David Weir injured and Carlos Bocanegra unable to obtain a visa in time to play, McMillan and Perry joined recent signings Dorin Goian and Lee Wallace in a makeshift defence.
"McMillan was fantastic," said McCoist. "What I really enjoyed about his performance was that, having been booked in the first half, he didn't go to ground in the second half.
"The referees will tell you that if you stay on your feet you've got a lesser chance of getting booked. And there were one or two occasions against tricky customers like [Jamie] Murphy when he could have gone to ground but he didn't.
"He realised that he had to stay on his feet and he did stay on his feet. I'm really pleased with his discipline.
"Ross Perry, again, came in and did very well. I thought he had a really solid performance against a player who knows his way about the park - big Michael Higdon."
Wylde was withdrawn after claiming Rangers' third goal, Steven Naismith and Kyle Lafferty having earlier netted.
"I wanted to give him a little rest and I wanted to give him a wee bit of support from the fans after that goal and I knew that would be the case," McCoist said.
"The fans obviously made their feelings clear, they were delighted with his performance and delighted with his goal.
"It's only three points but it's a fantastic three points and a well-deserved three points.
"I felt there was one or two question marks being put against my players and I think today certainly went not a long way but a short way to answering that.
"There's still a long way to go but there were some absolutely terrific individual performances and the thing that pleased me most was the overall team performance."
McCoist will now start planning for Thursday's Europa League play-off decider against Maribor at Ibrox, with the Slovenians leading 2-1 from the first leg.
"The message is, 'let's get behind us' because we will be having a right go on Thursday night against Maribor. Of that you can be sure," added McCoist.
"Naisy's suspended, we've got other boys who can come back in. I would hope maybe Lee McCulloch has a chance. Bocanegra will be back.
"I can guarantee our support that we'll be going for it and I would ask them to get right behind the team."
