Graham tips Spurs to miss out

Published Mar. 24, 2013 3:15 p.m. ET

foxsports

Rangers boss Ally McCoist has warned his young players they must improve following jeers from disgruntled fans at Ibrox on Saturday.

McCoist's side were booed off after being held to a goalless draw by Stirling, affirming Rangers' recent poor form that has seen them win only two of their last five games.

And the manager has warned the young players that they must produce more to meet the demands of the Ibrox fans.

"I've explained to them - that's what it's like being at Rangers," McCoist said. "You just have to find something from somewhere.

"The younger lads, Robbie (Crawford), wee Barrie McKay, Airdy (Fraser Aird), Kyle Hutton, Kane Hemmings and boys like that, for a first season, generally speaking, they have played a lot more games than they would have before.

"They have done okay but they need to progress, they need to keep coming along.

"That was a disappointing performance and result but - do you know something? - it's a point, a hard-earned point which will hopefully help us over the line."

McCoist added: "The people in the stands, we all share their frustration. I can totally understand their frustration and I can't ask for anything more from the stands than they are giving us in terms of support.

"I know more than anybody at this football club what it's like to play here and the level of expectancy.

"That will not change, although there is absolutely no doubt that the team has changed more dramatically in 12 months than it has done in its entire history.

"But the expectancy is still very, very high and I understand that."

Midfielder Crawford, understanding fans' frustration, said: "I totally understand their frustration and we all feel it as well.

"It hurts us just as much and the fans have the right to voice their opinion. They have stuck by us before and we need to do better for them.

"There was a lot of youth and not much experience there but we have all come through the youths together so we should know each other's game and we expect to play better than we did."

Graham believes Arsenal will pip Spurs to the final Champions League spot, but he does not believe that would constitute a poor season for Andre Villas-Boas' side.

Graham told the Sunday Mirror: "Tottenham will be the ones to lose out.

"They have a difficult run-in and they have played a game more than the others.

"But I want to stress that it would be anything but a disaster for them to make it a poor season. In fact, I would say the opposite.

"He (Villas-Boas) has been assembling a squad and has done well to be in such a high position in the league and still be involved in the Europa League.

"He can build on that. And I hope he can keep Gareth Bale - for the club's sake and the player's sake.

"It is unfair on Bale to compare him to the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. He would really benefit from another season in England."