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Interim boss Steven Davis insists he retains confidence in the Rangers squad as he called for unity following the 2-1 Europa League defeat by Aris Limassol in Cyprus.<\/p>\n
The former Light Blues midfielder was asked to take over after Michael Beale was dismissed at the weekend following the 3-1 loss Aberdeen at Ibrox which left the Gers seven points behind cinch Premiership leaders Celtic.<\/p>\n
Rangers had beaten Real Betis in their Group C opener at Ibrox but found the Cypriot side too much, losing the first goal after nine minutes to defender Alex Moucketou-Moussounda.<\/p>\n
Striker Shavy Babicka added a\u00a0 second goal in the 59th minute before Light Blues attacker Abdallah Sima pulled a goal back for the Ibrox men but the visitors could not complete the comeback.<\/p>\n
Ahead of the trip to St Mirren on Sunday, Davis said: \u201cI still believe we have some real quality players. Obviously, confidence has been hit.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou go through these periods in your career and it\u2019s a really difficult moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs I say by sticking together you make sure to do the basics right in terms of hard work and application which they have been doing.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important we continue that and things will turn because I believe in the qualities of the squad.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll get players back which will help. The most important thing is right now is us being a group together.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a really difficult night because we felt a real opportunity to come here and build on the Betis game.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we caused a lot of our own problems in the game. Obviously, with the two goals we give away we\u2019re really disappointed with and when that happens you have a mountain to climb.<\/p>\n
\u201cFirstly I\u2019ve got to take some responsibility. In the first half we kept trying to play in the middle of the pitch when it wasn\u2019t really on, they were good at getting transitions from that with the pace they had up front which caused us problems all night.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhenever you go behind in a second half you must throw some caution to the wind at certain points.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe tried to simplify the game really, trying to get the ball in behind, get it wide and cross the ball into the box and ultimately we didn\u2019t do enough to take something from the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn terms of the effort of the players, I thought they tried to keep going till the end and in terms of the energy they put in, I couldn\u2019t ask for any more in that respect.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere wasn\u2019t a lack of effort, we\u2019d never question that from the dressing room but it is a really difficult moment that everyone is in.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen that happens you maybe start to make the wrong decision and things like that.<\/p>\n
\u201cSunday\u2019s coming up and it\u2019s a really quick turnaround. We\u2019re hurting from tonight but it\u2019s important as a group we stick together.\u201d<\/p>\n