Wallace promises to get rid of dressing room complacency
LEE WALLACE promises to get rid of any signs of complacency in the Rangers dressing room after Fridays nights defeat to Falkirk, according to the Daily Record
The Bairns scored three times in the final 18 minutes to come back from 2-0 down against the Light Blues and the result angered the captain.
The skipper made his point clear as he looked ahead to the rest of the season.
‘Gers manager, Mark Warburton, has hit out at anyone who thinks there was complacency within the dressing room as the side charge towards the Championship title.
But when asked why it went wrong at Westfield, Wallace said: “Possibly complacency.
“We were sitting at half-time speaking about how we should be three or four up.
“The message has to be to start the second half at the same tempo as we started the first half.
“We had to go out and get the third, fourth and fifth goals that we spoke of. That didn’t happen for one reason or another and it was really disappointing.
“There was a disappointing dressing room after the game because of how the game went.
“For 20 minutes we were at our top levels and could have been more than two goals ahead.
“To then be way below our levels for the rest of the game is the most disappointing thing. It is certainly not like us.
“But the game is over now and we have lost it. We have had defeats in the past and we have bounced back from them on every occasion.
“We went on a winning run the last time we lost, so, hopefully, this time will be no different. But we can’t have the balance that has happened.
“To start the game so well, play so well, create so many chances and be so bright and alive and energetic with the ball was great, yet we were the opposite in the second half.
“We have taken the weekend to look at it and now we have a week to build towards the next game.
“As far as we’re concerned, we’re going to get over this, put it right, build for the future and bounce back like we have in the past.
“It is a hurt dressing room. It is certainly not like us.
“We have got the quality in the dressing room to ensure the levels should stay where they have been. They have been there for a long time.
“We’d been on an impressive run since the last time we visited Falkirk. It would have been nice to return there and overturn that previous result.
“It didn’t happen and there is certainly hurt in the dressing room as a result.
“But it isn’t going to be for too long because we have the characters in there who will certainly look to be bouncing back. This defeat will be no different to the others.”
Warburton believes that his players will learn from their mistakes and confirmed Wallace’s claim that the second half shambles and late collapse was really hurting his players.
The ‘Gers manager agreed that at times it was almost too easy for his men in the opening period and that they over-elaborated after the break which lead to their downfall.
Warburton admitted that he tore strips off his men and that angry words were exchanged in the dressing room in the aftermath of the Bairns defeat.
However Warburton failed to admit that his players had been complacent.
The Ibrox manager said: “Everyone talks about complacency, and I think sometimes, and I’ll be careful how I say this but it was almost too easy in the first half.
“We were playing so good and our movement was so good that it perhaps encouraged the extra touch and what we don’t do is take the unnecessary touch.
“If we played two-touch in the second half we would have been fine.
“The players know that – and they are a top quality group – and they are sick to the stomach in that changing room.
“We were worried even about drawing the game, but if we can learn as a group then we will be better for it.”
The last time Rangers lost in the league it was at the hands of Falkirk in December when they lost 2-1.
However on the bright side the Scottish giants went on a 15 game winning run.
And Warburton is hoping for more of the same as Rangers need four more wins to secure the long-waited return to the pinnacle of Scottish football.
Hibs failed to close the gap as they lost to Raith Rovers at the weekend.
Speaking to Rangers TV, Warburton said: “The players will give everything now and I know how hard they are going to train this week in terms of their quality and their focus, and we are looking forward to the Queen of the South game now.
“While the lead is healthy and we deserve to have that lead, we have said we had won nothing yet.”