Team news

McCoist remains positive Manager Ally McCoist admits Rangers must start producing results on the field regardless of the financial challenges they face off it.

Their first game since being forced into administration on Valentine's Day ended in a 1-0 loss to Kilmarnock in front of the biggest crowd of the season at Ibrox last weekend.

The Scottish champions were immediately docked 10 points after calling in the administrators, a situation which effectively ended the title race and put Celtic firmly in the driving seat at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

However, McCoist is adamant his players must reward the backing their fans have shown during a turbulent period by delivering the goods on the park, starting with Sunday's trip to Inverness.

He said: "Last week was a massive disappointment. We wanted to win the game for everybody. That was more than three points after the week we'd had.

"With the supporters turning up, we wanted to win the game and it wasn't to be. One or two things didn't go our way and that was that.

"The one thing that has always been the same at this club regarding football is that you have to bounce back from a disappointment.

"We have an opportunity to do that on Sunday when we go up to see the big man (Terry Butcher) and his team up there." Rangers must have their finances in order by March 31 in order to meet requirements for a UEFA licence to participate in Europe next season.

But, whether continental competition is a realistic option or not, McCoist wants his side to finish as high in the SPL as possible, with Motherwell also real contenders for second place now.

On the subject of the UEFA licence, McCoist said: "It's further down the line, but I'm not sure it's further down the list of priorities because it's a big priority and it would be a massive boost.

"They (administrators) haven't said it's not going to be the case yet so until they do I would be hopeful. But I do appreciate the difficulty of the situation.

"We have to accumulate as many points as we possibly can for a number of reasons - European football, to finish as high up the league as we can.

"The targets might change, for example if European football isn't an option that target will change, but, in terms of accumulating as many points as we possibly can, that is one target that will not change between now and the end of the season." Rangers have been dealt a blow with the news that Kyle Lafferty could be out for a further six weeks.

The striker has been out of action for a number of weeks already with a hamstring tear and faces being sidelined for another four to six weeks, although McCoist is hopeful full-back Steven Whittaker will soon return following a hernia operation.

Lee Wallace has been ruled out this weekend with a knock sustained in last week`s defeat to Kilmarnock, while fellow left-back Sasa Papac is suspended for the visit to the Highlands.

Inverness striker Billy McKay insists they cannot afford to think about the plight of Rangers.

Administrators have stated that staffing in the football department at Ibrox will come under review with decisions expected next week.

Some Rangers players will go into the game fearing for their jobs but McKay is keen to focus on their own game rather than be distracted by events surrounding the stricken champions.

The former Northampton forward said: "We have just been focusing on ourselves. Obviously it`s not a good situation for them to be in, or for Scottish football.

"But we have just got to concentrate on ourselves and turn up on Sunday in the right frame of mind.

"It`s a situation they have put themselves in. It`s hard for the players but they have got to get on with it. Hopefully they come back out of administration stronger." Inverness have Steve Williams and Gregory Tade available again.

Defender Williams has served a suspension and striker Tade has returned to training after missing several games with a knock.

Inverness CT vs Rangers

Last modified 15:02 26/02/12

Gers step to the four Rangers gave their supporters some much-needed cheer with an emphatic 4-1 victory at Inverness to secure their first Clydesdale Bank Premier League points since going into administration.

Goals from Steven Davis and Sone Aluko put Rangers two ahead inside 16 minutes and Andrew Little justified his selection up front with a composed finish.

Steve Williams headed one back before the break but the champions remained in control and Lee McCulloch netted an opportunistic fourth from his striker's role.

Rangers fans have endured worrying revelations about the club's financial affairs on an almost daily basis since they went into administration on Valentine's Day and the first opportunity for the players to deliver a positive distraction from the crisis ended in a 1-0 defeat by Kilmarnock last Saturday.

The players came into this game knowing there is a real possibility some of them may lose their jobs in the coming week as administrators prepare to review staffing across the club.

But they produced a highly-professional display with a real cutting edge to send the buoyant away fans home happy.

Manager Ally McCoist was forced into a more inexperienced starting line-up after losing Sasa Papac to suspension and Lee Wallace to injury, the left-back joining Steven Whittaker, Kyle Lafferty and Kyle Bartley in the treatment room.

Ross Perry and Salim Kerkar came in for rare starts while Little was preferred to David Healy as he made a first SPL start of the season.

All three acquitted themselves well with Kerkar having a major hand in three of the goals and Perry producing a solid display at right-back.

Inverness welcomed back Gregory Tade from injury with fellow striker Billy McKay also coming in and they made a bright start but Davis scored in the sixth minute with the visitors' first attack.

The Rangers captain began the move before Maurice Edu stretched the home defence with a pass out to Kerkar. The winger played a low ball into the six-yard box and Davis got there first to sidefoot home.

Inverness quickly got in behind the Rangers defence when McKay ran on to Richie Foran's pass. The forward beat Perry inside the box but drove the ball across the face of goal when he had several team-mates awaiting a cutback.

Aluko missed the target with a free header from six yards after Davis had found him at the back post but the winger soon atoned as Rangers went two ahead. The former Aberdeen player fired just inside the post from 18 yards after McCulloch had laid off Little's low cross from the right.

Inverness manager Terry Butcher moved from the stand to the touchline in a bid to sort out his side and Greg Tansey twice threatened from long range, driving just wide before forcing Allan McGregor into a save with a powerful effort the Rangers goalkeeper beat away.

But Edu and Davis were cutting out most of the Inverness attacks before they could reach the penalty box and Rangers moved three ahead with a 36th-minute counter-attack.

Kerkar collected the ball on the left wing and played it through for Little, who got away from the chasing defenders and took his time before finishing from a tight angle with his left foot.

Inverness gave themselves a lifeline four minutes later when Williams rose highest to head home Tansey's inswinging corner from close range. Rangers had disputed the corner award after Tansey's previous effort failed to clear the near post with referee Willie Collum ruling a Rangers player had helped it out.

Tade had a half chance following another Tansey set-piece but he volleyed well over with the last kick of the half.

The striker had a better chance moments after the break after Jonny Hayes got away from Kirk Broadfoot on the right wing and delivered an excellent low cross.

However, Dorin Goian made a crucial intervention as Tade tried to convert from six yards, the Romanian diverting the ball inches wide of McGregor's near post.

Rangers came close to a fourth amid a series of corners, Nick Ross clearing Edu's header off the line before Ryan Esson pushed Davis's follow-up wide.

Esson then saved from Aluko after the winger had held off Graeme Shinnie after running on to Edu's pass.

Caley Thistle moved from a 4-5-1 formation to a 4-4-2 but they were making few inroads as Rangers pressed them high up the park to maintain their territorial advantage.

Kerkar was heavily involved again as Rangers moved further ahead in the 72nd minute. The Algerian worked space to fire an angled drive, which Esson could not hold, and McCulloch ran in to tap home the rebound.

McGregor made a good stop after Tade helped on Hayes' cross but Rangers were otherwise comfortable and McCoist handed game time to Gregg Wylde, Kane Hemmings and Mervan Celik.