Barry Ferguson praised the character of his Rangers side as they came from behind to defeat Kilmarnock 4-2 in his first match in interim charge. (More Sports News)
ꦿIt looked like it could be a nightmare start for Ferguson, as goals from Joe Wright and Brad Lyons put the home side in a commanding position after just 15 minutes.
𒁃But Rangers hit back before half-time through Vaclav Cerny's 11th Scottish Premiership goal and equalised at the start of the second half as Cyriel Dessers nodded in a corner.
🐲The Nigerian then put the visitors in front nine minutes later, before substitute Nedim Bajrami rounded things off with a goal in the latter stages, securing a first win in charge for Ferguson.
☂The 47-year-old acknowledged that his side only really got going after going behind, but was delighted with the fight from his players in engineering a fine comeback win.
𒐪"It was a horrendous start," he told BBC Scotland.
🧔"Maybe we gave them too much information because after going two goals down, we got a bit of grip in the game.
🐭"Then, we were different class in the second half, with the type of Rangers performance I expect to see.
🐎"There's a lot to work on, and we'll work on it, but one thing they showed tonight was character."
෴Ferguson made the bold move of substituting Clinton Nsiala before the half-hour mark, with James Tavernier drafted into the centre of defence.
ඣHe told Sky Sports: "At times during a game when things are not going your way, you have to make tough decisions.
✤"Clinton's young, he'll recover from that, but I just felt at that stage we had to make the change. Obviously, it worked out pretty well."
꧋Ferguson, who enjoyed two trophy-laden spells at the club as a player, admitted he was still coming to terms with the enormity of taking the job, having not managed for the past three years since resigning from his role at Alloa Athletic.
🌳"It's just been a bit surreal," Ferguson said.
ဣ"I didn't expect to come back into management. I was enjoying my new role as an ambassador but when you get offered the opportunity, I just thought I'd be crazy to turn it down."
