GRAEME MURTY has called on promising youngster Jamie Barjonas to push on following his performance last night.
The 18-year-old made his first start of the campaign at Easter Road in the 2-1 win over Hibs, which helped Gers to a fourth consecutive win in the league.
Now Ibrox caretaker boss Murty has challenged the Auchenhowie talent to build on his recent progress.
He said: “I am pleased that he stood up to it but he knows he is better than what he showed.
“He showed some nice bits, but he has to play at an elevated level more consistently in training if he is going to come in to big games like this and play against big players like John McGinn.
“I said to him before the game he was getting an opportunity to play against someone who is rated by the whole world at £5million. Go and put yourself up against him and see how it goes.
“I think he enjoyed the experience. He will have learned a lot from it and will be a better player for it. It is a nice early baptism of fire for him in such a big game.”
Meanwhile, Murty also gave his thoughts on the decision of the referee not to give a penalty which left Hibs boss Neil Lennon fuming.
David Bates handled Efe Ambrose’s cross late in the game – but the whistler waved away claims.
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And Murty said: “I couldn’t see the penalty claim but the reaction of the crowd tells me something happened.
‘If they’re given, they’re given. If we’ve got away with one, so be it.
“I’m delighted with the three points but I endured that more than enjoyed it.
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“The lads showed good spirit and battling nature. Hibs imposed themselves upon us and we reacted for long spells.
“You need resilience and we had that but we invited a lot of pressure on to ourselves and rode our luck at times.
“The players agree that we didn’t hit the heights but winning here while not playing our best? You’d take that.
“Wins just breed confidence. Some of our players have been pilloried at times and given stick but have found a way to stand up to it. These are still just baby steps on where we want to get to.”
Murty also hailed Josh Windass for his superb equaliser — but admits the attacker stresses him out.
He said: “Josh is one of the most frustrating people you will ever meet.
“His left-foot strike for the goal look at the accuracy and crispness.
“But he does things that leave you tearing your hair out.
“It’s up to us to work on those. If he didn’t do those things, he could have a fantastic career.”