Rangers' rout restores battered pride

Rangers’ Sone Aluko celebrates scoring in the rout of Inverness (PA)

Ally McCoist, the Rangers manager, spoke of his immense pride in his players after their 4-1 victory at Inverness yesterday.

Rangers lost at home to Kilmarnock last weekend in their first match since going into administration, but forgot their off-field worries in the Highlands as goals from Steven Davis and Sone Aluko put them two ahead inside 16 minutes. Andrew Little and Lee McCulloch made the points safe after Inverness defender Steve Williams had pulled a goal back.

McCoist said: "I said to the boys before the game that the one thing they needed as much as anything today was a healthy respect for each other to go and play. And they did that. They have been battered, bruised and taken a couple of standing counts but they are certainly not down and far from out. Today was about putting a smile back on the faces of everyone involved with the club."

Joint administrator Paul Clark is reported to have said there will be job cuts this week, but McCoist remains uncertain what will happen when a review of staffing is carried out.