STUART McCall today revealed his battle-weary Rangers stars are running on empty heading into their third big game in six days.

 

McCall's side won the first leg of their SPFL Premiership play-off semi-final against Hibs 2-0 at Ibrox last night.

Goals from Nicky Clark and Kenny Miller in either half raised the roof at the Govan ground after 41,236 filed through the turnstiles.

The Gers have the advantage as they prepare for the rematch with Alan Stubbs's men at Easter Road on Saturday.

But the Light Blues boss revealed midfielder Dean Shiels had been floored with an illness this week and hadn't trained.

And he admitted his exhausted charges desperately needed to recharge their batteries before playing opponents who have had 18 days off - and have enjoyed a warm-weather break in Spain.

McCall said: "You could tell in the last 25 minutes who had been on the beach for a few days and who had been playing hard football because our energy levels dropped.

"We stuck in there. We had to defend some outstanding set-plays from Scott Allan. We scored two really good goals. So to come away with a 2-0 win, naturally I'm delighted.

"There is still a lot of hard work to go, we know that. But I think the players deserve enormous credit. It's only half-time,

"Last night we weren't brilliant. But football can be won many, many ways and tonight was sheer guts, determination."

He added: "I made three subs and could have made another four. Dean Shiels pulled out of training yesterday and was sent home.

"I didn't expect him to play tonight. He has come in wanting to play and we've had a couple of others with knocks and bruises - more than bruises - who were all desperate to be involved.

"That shows the togetherness in that dressing room. But there is still a lot of hard, hard work to do. It puts us in a good position.

"What we have got to do now is reorganise, re-energise and recuperate and be ready."

McCall admitted major shareholder Dave King, who was at the game last night, being passed as fit and proper by the SFA on Tuesday had given the club a lift.

But he reckoned the huge crowd that again filed through the turnstiles had made the difference for his side against the Easter Road club.

He said: "Regardless of whether Dave King was coming into town, the result was pleasing.

"I think for the football club it is great to have that settled now obviously, that Dave has now become the chairman. I suppose he has got a lot of work to do ahead of him.

"But I keep harking back to the old days I know, the noise that went around the stadium was fantastic.

"As a player, as a manager, as a coach, as a fan, coming to grounds when it's like that is what football is about. There was a terrific atmosphere in what I thought was a really good game."