McCoist blasts 'powder-puff' Gers

Former Rangers star Ally McCoist has described the current team as “powder-puff” following their UEFA Cup exit last night.

Alex McLeish’s side needed only a draw at home to Auxerre to progress to the last 32 but lost 2-0.

The French outfit were superior throughout with Bonaventure Kalou capitalising on an early defensive error in each half to find the net.

McCoist said: “It was very poor, it really was. They seemed to be a little bit powder-puff. They went out of Europe without so much as a bang.

“They didn’t really threaten at all an Auxerre side that I didn’t feel was anything better than reasonable. Considering the start I think it has been a really poor campaign to be honest.”

McLeish now has the unenviable record of just six wins in 20 European ties since succeeding Dick Advocaat three years ago.

McCoist questioned the decision to leave Alex Rae on the bench but conceded that McLeish’s options had been limited by the absence of Peter Lovenkrands and Chris Burke.

McLeish is sure to take flak for his selections but McCoist insisted the blame should be spread across the board.

He said: “I think the players have to take the majority of the responsibility. I think that was as flat as I have heard the crowd for a long time, especially in a midweek European game at Ibrox.

“Not only did the goals knock the stuffing out of Rangers they also knocked the stuffing out of the crowd. It was just a poor night overall.”

McCoist also believes Newcastle’s bid for Jean-Alain Boumsong affected the defender’s performance.

“I know we have been raving about him and he is entitled to a few not so good games but I thought it looked as though Boumsong was beginning to believe his own press,” McCoist added.

“He was well off the pace and to be brutally honest I think the result will speed his exit from Ibrox."