GRAEME MURTY reckons Rangers showed a ‘fantastic response’ to their Old Firm humbling as they prepare for another crack at Celtic this weekend.

The Light Blues recovered from their 4-0 Scottish Cup defeat to Brendan Rodgers’ side by seeing off Hearts at Ibrox on Sunday.

Goals from Jason Cummings and Daniel Candeias, before a Christophe Berra header, were enough to clinch a 2-1 win and all three points to take Rangers back up to second spot in the Premiership.

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And boss Murty believes his players answered some of the questions that have been directed at them as attentions turn to the trip to Parkhead on Sunday.

He said: “I see it as a massive game for this football club. That’s why the split was introduced, to give us massive games every week, and there is no bigger than Rangers and Celtic.

“We didn’t turn up at the last one in a way which would represent ourselves in a correct manner. We know that.

“We started back today by doing simple things really well with intensity and quality. We need to do more of the same.

“I have said all the time to you guys what these players are like. I see them every day.

“People outwith our group write a lot of stuff but they don’t see them every day. They only see them on match-day and make wild assumptions and sweeping statement about them.

“I know the qualities of the players in that group. They were hurting last week and showed a fantastic response for themselves and the football club. The players can only answer [what is said] by putting in performances like they did today.”

Murty was without the services of Lee Wallace and Kenny Miller after they were suspended on Tuesday for their part in a dressing room row at Hampden.

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Winger Candeias headed straight to the dugout when he scored the Gers’ second goal and picked out Andy Halliday before the Light Blues squad celebrated together.

Murty said: “When he ran straight past me, do you mean that one?

“I don’t know if it was pre-planned, I don’t know anything about it. But everyone was in.

“The atmosphere and spirit within the group has been good all week. I’ve told you this. If they want to make a public display about it them more power to them.

“Listen, we were all hurting last week. We all had a hard time. We will not be, in my opinion, defined by one game. We won’t allow ourselves to be.

“We have to react in a positive way. I thought the reaction I asked for is the one that I got.

“We refused to let that game fall over into this week. I thought the boys did that really well.”

Supporters unfurled banners before the game and at half-time as they made their anger known following another difficult spell on and off the park at Ibrox.

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And Murty hopes his players started to make amends to the Light Blue legions with a decent performance against the Jambos.

He said: “The fans are fully within their rights to do what they see fit. I would never ever go against their wishes.

“But I said to the players we had to generate an atmosphere in the changing room for ourselves.

“If we wanted something from them we needed to put on a performance.

“I thought there were times when we were on the brink of clicking into a high gear.

“I hope the fans saw some passion and intensity and a bit of quality. I thought the players stood up after a hard week.

“I think it shows the dressing room is united. A lot of people outwith our dressing room have said a lot of things without knowing too much.

“But, we have remained focused and just concentrated on the display.”