GUS MacPHERSON reckons the touchline snipers have been too quick to take fire at Rangers in recent years.

And while the Queen's Park boss and former Ibrox youth insists his players will respect the Light Blues tonight, he has urged them to make the most of their chance to cause a League Cup shock.

The pressure has eased slightly on Ibrox boss Ally McCoist in the aftermath of convincing wins over Clyde and Dumbarton, but that would all change once again if the Spiders were to upset the odds tonight.

But gaffer MacPherson knows Queen's will be up against it as he looks to guide his League Two side to a place in the third round of the competition.

He said: "Rangers have got a squad of players, not just a team, that is full of experience and quality.

"The one thing that we will stress to our players is that they must be respectful to what they are playing against before the game.

"But when they are out there on the pitch, it is 11 versus 11 and we are going out to win.

"People are there to criticise and the easiest thing in the game is to criticise.

"The one thing that I see, and I have seen it for a number of years, is there are a lot of people, whether it be players, coaches, managers, media, fans, who are very disrespectful not just to the club, but in terms of the players, the management and the coaching.

"They are not fully aware of what the circumstances are that people are having to work under.

"That is one thing I have been brought up with throughout my career. Whether it is Rangers or Celtic, you must be very respectful.

"Those players have earned the right to perform at that club, especially with all the changes that have been made the in last couple of years.

"There are a group of players who have come through with Rangers from the Third Division, they are good players who are competing for that club."

THE Spiders acquitted themselves well against Rangers during their time in the fourth tier two years ago, but were left with nothing to show for their efforts as the Light Blues clinched a clean sweep of league wins.

It is a new Hampden outfit that will take to the field tonight and MacPherson is eager to see his stars shine.

He said: "It is a reward for some of these players coming in from Junior football.

"We were grateful to get the players in, a lot of them had offers from Junior clubs, but they have chosen to come and compete at senior level.

"This is a reward for them and it is a chance for them to experience what it is like to play against one of the biggest clubs in the country.

"Knowing these boys as I do, having worked with them closely in the last few weeks, I know they will appreciate what they are competing against.

"They will be ready for that challenge but we know it will be a tough one."