ANDY Murdoch today rubbished claims Queen of the South are just plastic pitch specialists - and warned Rangers will need to hit peak form at Ibrox to keep their promotion dream alive.

 

Gers take a slender 2-1 lead into next Sunday's do-or-die quarter-final second leg Championship play-off.

And starlet Murdoch warned that Queens will be up for the fight on any surface.

Saturday's victory on the synthetic surface at Palmerston has ensured Stuart McCall's side is now red-hot favourites to win at home against James Fowler's team in the second leg and progress to the semi-final against Hibs.

However, the 20-year-old central midfielder still believes the Doonhamers will pose a serious threat to their promotion hopes on the finely-manicured turf at Ibrox.

He knows from bitter personal experience that Queens don't just excel on their 5G pitch at home and can be every bit as dangerous on the road.

Murdoch, named Man of the Match on Saturday, said: "I played in the 1-1 draw against Queen of the South at Ibrox back in March just two or three games after I got into the side.

"They showed that night they're not just a good side on their own artificial surface, they are good wherever they play.

"We have to make sure that we prepare properly this week and give a good account of ourselves because if we don't they will punish us."

That 1-1 draw with Queens in March - the first game after Dave King and his associates seized power at Ibrox at an EGM - was the last game caretaker boss Kenny McDowall took charge of.

McDowall was relieved of his duties after that disappointing result and McCall was put in temporary charge until the end of the season.

The nine-in-a-row great has transformed the club's season and has just lost once - against Queens away last month - in 12 games in charge.

And Murdoch, who has gone from strength to strength under his new gaffer, is confident Rangers can keep their impressive run going.

He said: "We have got ourselves together since then. We knew we had to get a run of results and we have managed to do that.

"We have been playing well lately and we are all confident that we can maintain our form this weekend and in the final weeks of the season.

"We haven't achieved anything yet. We know Queens are a good side and we also know we will have to play well at Ibrox."

Rangers gaffer McCall is hoping centre-backs Lee McCulloch and Bilel Mohsni, who were ruled out of the first leg after picking up slight knocks in training at Murray Park on Friday, will be available.