Gus thinks positive

Aug 13 2007 Paisley Daily Express

SAINTS boss Gus MacPherson insists his men must take the positives from their first-half showing against Rangers at Ibrox.

The Love Street side held Gers for the first 45 minutes in Glasgow and produced a mature and controlled display in the opening half that led to Walter Smith’s men being booed off the park by the home support.

However, goals from Barry Ferguson in the 52nd minute and new boy Daniel Cousin 10 minutes from time gave the Light Blues the win and ensured Saints remain pointless after the first two games of the season.

MacPherson said: “We performed extremely well in the first half, but that’s only half the job done.

“When you lose a goal as early as we did in the second half then it’s always going to be difficult against a team with the ability and resources that Rangers have.

“You want to keep it tight for the first 10 minutes or so after the goal and then throw on another striker, but when the second goal goes in it makes it difficult and if you start chasing the game it could end up four or five which affects the confidence and the heads go down.

“We carried a threat in the first half, but we knew even if we scored the job wasn’t done, but we’ve come here and been brave and been positive.

“You know when you play against teams like Rangers you will have to defend for long periods and that’s what happened.”

MacPherson was philosophical when asked how much the team were missing the goal threat of Craig Dargo.

He added: “We’re only two games in and I felt we created chances, especially in the first half. We want to get all our players fit and we have to take belief from the way we played in the first half.”