Kilmarnock assistant manager Lee McCulloch has admitted that Rangers deserved to go through in last night’s Scottish Cup fifth round tie, but has praised his side for showing great character to fight back into the game after conceding in the third minute.
Martyn Waghorn was brought down inside the box by Stuart Findlay in the second minute and the 26-year-old made no mistake from the spot to score his 28th goal of the season, however, the Englishman was immediately replaced by Nicky Clark as he could not continue.
Rory McKenzie equalized for McCulloch’s side four minutes later as he slotted the ball past Wes Foderingham from inside the box
Clark, who had replaced Waghorn, scored the winner in the second minute of added time, as the 24-year-old volleyed Barrie McKay’s corner in at the near post.
McCulloch has been reappointed the assistant manager after Lee Clark was appointed the manager of the Killies, but the former Blackpool boss was watching the game from the stands last night.
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The former Rangers player felt that earlier in the season his side collapsed after conceding but that was not the case last night.
McCulloch feels that the Gers dominated in the last 25 mins of the game, but rued his side’s lapse of concentration that gifted Mark Warburton’s side the two gaols.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Radio Scotland, McCulloch said: "A lapse in concentration in the first minute of the game gifted a penalty – and I think it was a clear penalty – but we showed great character to come back into the game.
“Usually this season if we've gone 1-0 down, we've collapsed and it's ended up four or five. But we showed great character, [scored] a great goal and then a lapse in concentration in the last minute of the game has cost us not picking up at a set play.
“In the last 25 minutes, Rangers really dominated, created chances and probably deserved to go through.”
Kilmarnock will now prepare for survival in the Scottish Premiership under their new manager.
