RYAN JACK admits Rangers used their recent criticism as extra motivation as Steven Gerrard’s side saw off Braga to clinch Europa League progression.

The Light Blues have been under the spotlight in the last few weeks as their Premiership title ambitions have been all-but killed off with a series of poor displays.

But Gerrard’s side rose to the occasion in Portugal as Ryan Kent netted the only goal of the game to secure a historic 4-2 aggregate victory.

Rangers will discover their last 16 opponents on Friday and Jack was thrilled with a battling showing as the in-form Portuguese were beaten on home soil.

Jack said: “What a performance, honestly. Everyone has been having a wee dig at us and rightly so because it’s not been good enough but it just shows what we can achieve when we stick together.

“The mentality of the group has been questioned and it definitely fires us up - it definitely fires me up - and when times are tough people will have an opinion and write and say things and at a big club you have to take that.

“It’s important we stick together in the changing room and we’ve done that and we’ve come to a very tough place against a very good team and that is something to build on for the rest of the season.

“We went in at half-time and all the boys were frustrated. We were up against a top class side and had to forget the first 45 minutes and that fact we created so many chances.

“The staff put out a game plan and we’ve worked on it since the St Johnstone game and it we bought into it, stuck to it to a man, and it worked and nobody could have grudged us a bigger a win.

“It felt like we were clicking again and everyone was on the same page. We were ahead in the tie so they had to come and beat us and that’s a different challenge and type of game but we need to take this into the Scottish Cup on Saturday.”