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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Ewan Paton

Ex-Rangers defender calls for calm after Kilmarnock defeat

Nikola Katic has called for calm at Rangers despite their opening day Premiership defeat at Kilmarnock.

Derek McInnes' new-look side ran out 1-0 winners in Ayrshire on Saturday evening. Brad Lyons popped up with the winner on 65 minutes at Rugby Park.

Both teams had several of their new players on the field, however, the visitors were mostly outfought by their hosts.

From experience, Katic insists playing Killie away is one of the hardest games Rangers will face in a season.

And the Croatian insists it's time to keep the chin up for everyone at his former club despite the disappointing loss.

He told Football Scotland: “I watched the Kilmarnock game and I’ve seen some of the highlights of the friendly games.

“For me it’s the worst game to open the championship. The astro pitch is so slow. Kilmarnock are a team who are a typical Scottish team who go there to play for everything.

"I don’t think it’s a red alert because it’s the start of the season and there’s a lot of new players who came in and they need to settle properly and connect with each other.

“Rangers have a good team and they will get better in the future but that game is always tough. When I played there I think we lost and once we scored in the last minute to win so it was always an equal game, it’s a difficult pitch, it’s a slow ball, it’s a tough and physical team.

“The ball doesn’t bounce properly. It bounces and stays in the same place, it doesn’t go forward. When you pass the ball on the floor also it’s tough.

"I watched the first half and for me, it was kind of boring with no chances and difficult to get into the box and they tried some long balls and that’s all you can really do to outplay them because the pitch is slow and it’s difficult.

“Of course, it’s disappointing for the fans because it doesn’t matter where you play or who you play, as a Rangers player they always expect you to win. It’s always big expectations so I understand why the fans aren’t happy.”

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