STUART McCALL hopes victory over Hibernian will lift a mental barrier for his Rangers side as he targets play-off success.

 

The new Ibrox boss earned his first win in the dugout at Easter Road yesterday as goals from Lee Wallace and Kenny Miller clinched an impressive 2-0 triumph for the Light Blues.

Rangers are now just three points adrift of Alan Stubbs' side in the Championship and still have a game in hand as they look to finish best of the rest behind Hearts this term after the Jambos were crowned champions.

McCall congratulated Robbie Neilson and his players on their title success, and has now set his sights on joining them in the top flight as Rangers edge closer to a top-four finish.

He said: "It's one game at a time for us. It's a stepping stone. But hopefully we will get back into the top league at the end of the season and it could be we're going to have to play Hibs in a two-leg decider.

"If we had gone to Easter Road and got beaten then, psychologically, it wouldn't have been good, so this result will help. But we have a long way to go.

"We want to go into the play-offs with momentum, with a bit of spirit and confidence, and players playing at the level they can play and yesterday will help with that."

After seeing his side drop crucial points at home to Livingston and Alloa in his first two matches in charge, McCall finally got off and running as Rangers boss with a superb showing in the capital.

It has been a barren few weeks for Rangers as they have lost more ground in the Championship and questions have been raised over whether they have the ability to finish in the play-offs.

But McCall is confident they are on the right track after they moved to within touching distance of Hibernian in the second-tier standings.

He said: "Listen, it is nice to see the fans with a smile on their faces because that's what football is all about. But we have to look to improve in every area.

"Regardless whether you were there or not the other night, there was an improvement from Livingston to Alloa.

"I mean, we should have won the game as they had only two attempts on our goal, so we should have won, but we didn't.

"Everyone was looking at us yesterday. I said to the players there is only one thing better than winning and that is winning as an underdog, when people don't expect it of you.

"They did that yesterday, but there is a long way to go. However, we won't be getting carried away with that. It helps with the confidence, morale and belief."