McCall's mind games the difference for Rangers as the Ibrox club seize play-off advantage

Positive thinking, the act of visualising success regardless of the obstacles in your path, is crucial to your chances of victory.

Focusing unnecessarily on the difficulty of the hurdles which need to be overcome, meanwhile, can be fatal for your prospects.

Adopting an upbeat attitude certainly worked wonders for Rangers as they got the SPFL Premiership play-offs underway with a fine 2-1 away win over Queen of the South.

It could, too, be important for Stuart McCall's side in the rematch with James Fowler's team this Sunday and, if successful, their games after that.

Much was made about the Ibrox club's aversion to the synthetic surface at Palmerston Park in the build-up to the first leg of the quarter-final on Saturday evening.

It was hardly surprising. The Gers had been soundly beaten 2-0 and 3-0 by Queens at the Dumfries stadium previously in the 2014/15 campaign.

The dire displays they produced in both of those outings were among their worst in what has been a difficult season.

And there have been a few.

Yet, McCall was unperturbed, outwardly anyway, about returning to the scene of his first and to date only defeat as Rangers boss last month.

Indeed, he was adamant the 5G pitch would actually help, not hinder, his charges and was preferable to playing on grass at this stage in a long, hard season.

Whether the interim manager actually, deep down, believed that to be the case, is open to debate.

However, by stating as much both publicly to the media and privately to his players, he effectively extinguished any doubts which may have existed in their minds about the ground.

It certainly showed in the Rangers performance. They were far more comfortable, confident and competitive than they had been in their earlier visits to Palmerston.

A stunning free-kick by Stevie Smith - playing in his first game in over two months - in the first half, and a header by Dean Shiels in the second secured the victory.

The tie is by no means over. A controversial Derek Lyle header, scored after Darren McGregor had appeared to be fouled, has given Queens some hope of progressing to the semi-final with Hibs. But Rangers will take great confidence from the triumph at the weekend and will go into the second leg at Ibrox with a definite swagger.

McCall's approach to playing on the plastic pitch was, like so much he has done since succeeding Kenny McDowall as interim boss back in March, refreshing.

When Ally McCoist was in charge he made no secret of his dislike for the Astroturf so many of the lower-league clubs have now installed.

It was no coincidence that many of the worst results his side suffered were at venues like Galabank, Palmerston and Recreation Park.

It would be wrong to denigrate McCoist's abilities or achievements during his tenure given the climate of uncertainty and unrest he was forced to work in.

The legendary goalscorer was a far superior manager than many give him credit for and his years at the helm will, in time, be looked upon in a quite different light.

Yet, his persistent complaints about artificial surfaces planted ideas in his players' heads and appeared partially to blame for tentative displays and some shocking draws and defeats.

Constantly highlighting how plastic pitches were all different and gave the home team an unfair advantage set the tone for some difficult afternoons and evenings.

McCall, in stark contrast, stressed how conditions underfoot would suit his more technically gifted players and enable them to play their favoured passing game and reaped the rewards.

The nine-in-a-row great also got his tactics and team selection exactly right.

Utilising Andy Murdoch as a deep-lying central midfielder was inspired. Murdoch, the 20-year-old product of the often wrongly-maligned Murray Park youth system, was handed his chance in the first team by McDowall.

But McCall - exactly the same sort of combative, niggling, industrious presence in the boiler room in his own playing days - has continued to put faith in him and has brought him on as a footballer considerably.

Queens are big, tough and physical opponents and subjected their rivals to some dubious treatment that referee Alan Muir wasn't always capable of controlling. Murdoch was undeterred by the rough treatment meted out by some and deservedly received the Man of the Match award for another exceptional performance.

Despite his tender years, he will, if fit, be a key player in a match at Ibrox that is, due to the club setting ticket prices at £5, sure to attract a bumper crowd.

McCall kept faith with the same back line - Richard Foster, McGregor, Marius Zaliukas and Lee Wallace - that started against Hearts at Tynecastle seven days earlier.

They limited the chances their hosts created greatly and looked fairly reliable throughout. The goal they conceded was contentious.

Given their frailties in that department throughout the 2014/15 campaign, the defensive showing was highly encouraging.

McCall - in what was another example of clever psychology - was at pains to play down suggestions his side had one foot in the next round.

"I don't think we're clear favourites now," he said. "Slight favourites maybe. We're not getting carried away.

"It was a tough game and I expect Sunday to be equally tough. It's only half-time. We'll need the fans every step of the way. It won't be a cakewalk."

But Rangers will go into the match against Queens in a positive frame of mind, and believing they can book a place in the semi-final with Hibs.

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