Ally McCoist felt his team ‘cut their own throats’ against Celtic

Rangers manager Ally McCoist felt his team contributed to their own downfall against Celtic, before expressing his hope that his team are given the chance to face their Glasgow rivals next season.

McCoist was unhappy with the way his team defended to allow Charlie Mulgrew and Gary Hooper to score. In between Kris Common fired home his first goal of the season to give Neil Lennon’s men all three points.

However with uncertainty continuing to hang over the Ibrox side, McCoist admitted he is unsure whether the two clubs will be in the same league next season.

He said: “I felt we cut our own throats in the manner of our defending for goals one and three.

“I felt we played a big part in our own downfall. I’ve absolutely no problems at all with not taking anything from the game because I don’t think we did anything like enough to take anything from it.”

When asked whether he thought the two teams will meet next season, he said: “I really hope so.

“It’s a sore one to take today but it’s certainly a massive product and something we should be proud of.

“I can’t answer the question. I’m very hopeful we have an Old Firm game next year but you’d have to say there’s a possibility that there might not be.”

Speaking about the rest of the season, McCoist refused to criticise his players and added that their motivation must be to pick up as many points as possible.

He added: "We take the result on the chin but the thing that sticks in the throat is our own part in our downfall.

"I've got to say I have nothing but incredible admiration for my players.

"I am incredibly proud of them in incredibly trying circumstances.

"They have gone through more this season than other players go through in a lifetime so they have always done their level best and it would be grossly unfair for me to criticise them.

"As disappointing as the result was, I think they gave it their best shot.

"The season is not finished, they have to keep going, there are three tough games left.

"There is no point feeling sorry for themselves, it won't happen and we won't allow it to happen anyway."

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