ALLY McCOIST has fought for Rangers' cause more than anyone else over the last few months.

But the Ibrox boss knows it is the battles undertaken by his players that will really count as they bid to return to the top of Scottish football.

The road back to the peak will be an arduous one for McCoist and his troops, with their troubles so far this term proof that it will certainly not be plain sailing.

The Gers legend has been a figure to rally behind for the Light Blue legions in their time of need, but he admits he has often removed himself from the scene as his players have attempted to sort their differences this term.

He said: "You could argue that the Rangers team just now has maybe the hardest job of any Rangers team ever.

"The counter argument is that it should be the easiest.

"But the fact of the matter is we are asking this group of players to get us back to where we firmly believe we should be, which is the top level of Scottish football.

"I don't care what anyone says: it's a difficult, difficult job at the best of times.

"But it's a difficult job with 80% of the players who don't really know the club or don't really know what it's like to play on a regular basis for Rangers first-team.

"So it's a really difficult job the players have, a massive job. But they will do it. I firmly believe they will get us back to where we belong.

"Some of the best fights for the benefit of the club I'm not involved in. Sometimes it's a good thing to just shut the door on the way out. I have got a great degree of sympathy with the players because of the position they're in and where they are.

"But the final answer has to be down to them. Me having sympathy for them doesn't wash, because they have to be winning games and get us back to where we belong."

McCoist knows the pressure and expectation at Ibrox more than most. Even although the club find themselves in the Irn-Bru Third Division, standards must be maintained.

However, at times this season they have failed to perform, and McCoist knows his squad must rise to the challenge.

THE Rangers manager said: "It's one of the hardest things in football, to play for Rangers. It's not easy.

"It is far easier playing against Rangers than it is playing for them, and I've done both.

"That aside, you have to find out about people and you have to ask people questions and then you see their reaction.

"At the same time, bringing players into our club and history, not everyone hits the ground running: like myself, like Mark Hateley.

"It took us a wee while to get going and then, thankfully, we got through it.

"So there is no way that I underestimate the task of the young boys coming into the team and the boys we have signed because there is an expectation level at this club.

"We have to look at that expectation level and accept it but we also have a realistic outlook about where we are and the position we are in and where we want to get to. Getting the balance right is so, so important."

Having crashed out of the Ramsdens Cup to Queen of the South, Rangers return to cup action against Stuart McCall's Motherwell tonight.

It is the first time McCoist's side have faced an SPL team in their current guise, and the Ibrox boss insists the Steelmen are favourites for the Scottish Communities League Cup tie.

"I would take satisfaction in beating the team that is effectively No.1 in the country at the moment," he said.

"It would be a successful night for the young lads and the boys who have come from other clubs. That would be the satisfaction. None other than that.

"We need to win the game and I believe we can. Are we favourites to win? No, I don't believe we are. But we can beat the team at the top of the SPL tonight, of course we can.

"But we have to do it with everyone working together. No matter the result, this game will be a big step for our team."