ALLY MCCOIST has hailed the way Rangers handled the lack of supporters this season on their way to securing the Premiership title.

Steven Gerrard's side clinched the league crown last month and are on course for an unbeaten top flight campaign as they prepare for the final four games this term.

The champions also have the Scottish Cup in their sights and Rangers will host Celtic this weekend in the fourth derby of the campaign to be played behind closed doors.

The Ibrox crowd has been noticeable by its absence in recent months and McCoist has been impressed with the manner in which Gerrard's side have performed in unique circumstances.

McCoist said: "I think Rangers have coped with it exceptionally well. And it’s a strange one.

"My own take is that they’re as patient a Rangers team as I’ve seen in a long time.

"They’ll get the ball into wide areas and, if they feel it’s not on to cross, they’ll come out and probe down the other side. That’s excellent.

"I don’t know if, as a centre forward, I could have handled it! But it’s excellent.

"They’ve been allowed to do it and rightly so, because it’s been coached into them.

"But I don’t care what anybody says, there would be an element of the support demanding that the ball gets put into the danger area earlier.

Glasgow Times:

"I include myself in that, as a football fan. I can be a bit impatient.

"So I think Rangers have handled the situation of having no fans as good as, if not better, than anybody.

"In some ways, it’s a tragedy that Rangers fans haven’t been there to see their team in this unbelievable league campaign. But I think the players have handled it well.

"I think the best way to answer that would be to say that it’s far easier to play for Rangers or Celtic with no fans there. It makes sense, doesn’t it?

"Listen, Old Firm fans are fanatical. But I think we’re all in agreement that, if you make a bad pass or miss the target with a shot, mistime a tackle, they’re quite quick at letting you know that. I don’t know if you’ve noticed that!

"And I just think certainly some of the players at Rangers and Celtic will not be missing that side of it."

*Ally McCoist was speaking to promote coverage of Rangers v Celtic exclusively live on Premier Sports this weekend. Premier Sports is available on Sky, Virgin TV and the Premier Player. Prices start from £10.99 per month.