RANGERS manager Walter Smith praised Partick Thistle for running his Co-operative Insurance Cup holders so close last night but felt his team had only themselves to blame for being forced into extra-time.
Missed chances, most notably by Nacho Novo, prevented Rangers taking a firm grip on the third round tie and Smith was critical of his side's work in the final third of the pitch.
"I felt we started the game really well and could have been two or t
hree goals up at half-time," he said, "but we picked the wrong options in terms of final pass at times and had a couple of poor finishes.
"If you don't take those chances, then there is always the likelihood the opposition will come back into the game. We were never quite as dominant in the second half and, to be fair, both teams had chances to go into the lead.
"Partick Thistle deserve a great deal of credit. Teams from lower divisions always raise their game in cup ties against bigger clubs, but you have to say that Thistle played to a really decent level tonight. We had a couple of tough cup games against them last season and this was another really good tie.
"It looked as if it was going to penalties and in the end it has taken two fantastic goals for us to get through."
Partick assistant manager Gerry Britton praised his players' efforts. "I think it says a lot for our performance that the guys are in there disappointed," Britton said.
"Games like tonight are a bonus for us. It's the games in the league campaign that are top priority for us."
The full article contains 283 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
