Danny Rohl has defended his team selection at Fir Park after Rangers conceded a late equaliser against 10-man Motherwell to drop two points in the title race.
Rohl caused a surprise by naming January signings Tuur Rommens, Ryan Naderi, Andreas Skov Olsen and Ryan Naderi, plus in-form defender Emmanuel Fernandez, on the bench.
Rommens and Skov Olsen remained unused as Rangers, who led through Nicolas Raskin’s early strike, were undone by a Stephen Welsh equaliser.
“You have to pick the team before the game, not after,” said the German.
“There were some things, Ryan had a little bit of problem on Tuesday after training, it was too much for him to start.
“And then with Tochi [Chukwuani] and Tuur and Skov, you have to implement them in the rhythm of the game.
“I saw both games, tonight and Sunday, I saw them together and you need the idea for both games. Let’s see. It’s just a draw and we are disappointed, of course. I take this.”
Rangers now trail leaders Hearts – who visit Ibrox on Sunday – by five points with 12 games remaining, but Rohl is adamant the Fir Park slip-up has not ruined his team’s title hopes.
“Tonight doesn’t mean the title race is over,” he said.
“It’s a bit of a blow because we dropped two points late. But we have the next opportunity and if our reaction is right we can get the right result one Sunday.”
