RANGERS manager Ally McCoist has laughed off comments made by his Hearts counterpart Robbie Neilson ahead of their meeting at Ibrox on Sunday.

Neilson, who was appointed head coach at Tynecastle in the summer, revealed this week his side had been training with 10 men to prepare for their league opener.

The capital club have had a player ordered off - Eggert Jonsson twice and Christian Nade once - on three of their previous six visits to Ibrox.

However, McCoist has dismissed the remarks as "mind games" in the build-up to a game between two of the favourites to win the second tier title.

"If there's anybody who knows about getting red cards it's Robbie," he quipped. "He is better qualified than most to comment. Is it mind games? Absolutely it's mind games. I did have a chuckle at Robbie's comments. He's in the management door 30 seconds and he's playing mind games already."

McCoist added: "We all got a giggle. We took the way it was meant. I would imagine he had his tongue firmly placed in his cheek. If we can't have a smile, then we are all toiling."

Alan Stubbs, the Hibs manager, was aggrieved at the red card Danny Handling received in the Petrofac Training Cup first round match at Ibrox on Tuesday night.

But after reviewing the challenge on David Templeton, McCoist is adamant the referee got the decision correct in a game that his side won 2-1 after extra time.

"It is a red card," he said. "I agreed with Stubbsy at the time. I wasn't sure. I thought it was a card and a half at the time.

"But having watched it again I think he does come in with the scissors. I don't think there was any real malice. The fact Hibs aren't appealing maybe indicates how they feel."

Meanwhile, McCoist has revealed that Arnold Peralta, who had been stranded in Paris, arrived back in Glasgow on Tuesday night.

McCoist said: "He's available and his fitness is absolutely fine. He's doing some extra training so he will come back into the reckoning soon."