Ally McCoist in 'brutally frank' Rangers verdict as he warns Ibrox stars they need to lift it

Concerned Ally McCoist insists Rangers need to lift it.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst 's side have yet to hit their stride following the winter break and needed a late, albeit spectacular, intervention from Scott Arfield to beat Livingston on Wednesday.

That followed a draw at Aberdeen where they were outplayed for much of the 90 minutes.

The absence of Joe Aribo, playing for Nigeria at AFCNON, has been keenly felt and now Van Bronckhorst has also lost Alfredo Morelos to international commitments.

Aribo is set to return against Ross County this weekend ahead of a monumental derby with Celtic on February 2.

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And Ibrox legend McCoist says performances simply must improve.

He said on BT Sport's Scottish Football Extra: "I'm not going to kid you on, the last two or three performances haven't been of the standard set prior to the break, let's be brutally frank about it.

"There will have to be an improvement again, there's got to be an improvement.

"I think there will be. We've already mentioned Celtic without one or two key players and Rangers are the exact same.

"I don't think Rangers are the same team without the likes of Aribo and Kent in it, Morelos as well, who's going to miss a couple of games.