McDowall Urges Rangers To Raise Game

11 March 2015, 06:18 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Rangers caretaker manager Kenny McDowall has told his players they need to improve to have any chance of getting promoted this season.

The Light Blues again failed to capitalise on the feel-good factor surrounding off-field matters at Ibrox when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Queen of the South on Tuesday night.

Rangers followed Friday's pivotal general meeting with a goalless draw at Cowdenbeath, with the heavy pitch and wet and windy conditions being used to excuse a disappointing result.

But it was all set up for them on Tuesday evening, with more than 35,000 fans inside Ibrox, including former bosses John Greig and Walter Smith, who were in the directors' box along with new decision-makers Dave King and Paul Murray.

And they were lacking in inspiration against a Queens side who might have been ahead had they had the final ball to match their enterprise up to the final third.

Haris Vuckic put Rangers ahead in the 77th minute when he got the break of the ball inside the box. but 17-year-old substitute Aidan Smith marked his first league appearance with an equaliser eight minutes later when he dinked the ball over Lee Robinson.

Rangers have now won just once in seven games and they remain in third spot in the Scottish Championship - two points behind Hibernian with one game in hand.

But McDowall warned his men were in danger of being knocked out of the top four as Queens and Falkirk close in.

"The players know, I have had a word with them,'' he said.

"They were obviously disappointed to concede a late goal.

"They have got to get back to winning games to get themselves up this season.

"They know there are teams behind us chasing us, and until we get back to winning ways we are making life difficult for ourselves.''

Doonhamers boss James Fowler felt his side were more than worthy of a point.

Fowler said: "If we hadn't got anything out of the game, it would have been a bit of a travesty from our point of view. We were probably a wee bit unlucky not to win as well.

"But when you go a goal behind when there's not much time left in the game, you have got to be happy with a draw.

"We knew their players would get a lift from there being so many fans back along with everything that has gone on. We were just conscious of trying to keep them quiet.

"Rangers started brightly in the first 15-20 minutes but after that we showed our quality and there were a few boos going off at half-time, which probably told its own story.''