Graeme Murty spoke to RangersTV after his Rangers Development side lost to Partick Thistle on Tuesday evening.
It was a hard-fought encounter in Dumbarton as the Gers named an intriguing XI to face the bulk of the Jags’ first team.
Both teams struggled to convert in the final third. Therefore, with just five minutes left on the clock and the scores locked at 0-0, it looked as though the opening Glasgow Cup fixture would end in stalemate.
However, an 85th-minute Own Goal and an 87th-minute strike from Alex Jones earned Thistle the victory.
Rangers coach Graeme Murty rages after Jags defeat
“We didn’t deserve to win, we didn’t do enough to win, we made some good chances but our decision making in the final third wasn’t really good enough and then we get exposed because of simple errors,” he told RangersTV. “If we had a little bit more control, a little bit more composure and a little bit more concentration I think we would have seen the game out and the worst we could’ve came away with is a 0-0.”
“As it turns out we made some rash decisions and then you chance it and leave yourself even more exposed and they score again, so once again a good lesson for our young players but something that we shouldn’t at this level be doing.”
Verdict
Judging by his animated interview, the 44-year-old was clearly frustrated by the late manner of this loss.
Given the recent success of the club at Academy level, he is rarely exposed to defeat, even against senior sides. Over recent weeks, the Gers Colts have beaten both Berwick Rangers and Stranraer in the Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Cup.
Tuesday evening was something of a step up, though, and without the recently departed Josh McPake, there was a lack of potency.
There are plenty of chances for the players to redeem themselves going forward, though.
The Gers will play eight matches in this season’s revamped Glasgow Cup, facing the Jags, Clyde, Queen’s Park and a Celtic development side, home and away.
