STEVE Clarke, who masterminded two Kilmarnock wins over Rangers last season, believes the Ibrox club are performing at a higher level this term under new manager Steven Gerrard.

But Clarke praised his players, new goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann in particular, for how they performed in the 3-1 defeat to their Glasgow rivals in the last 16 of the Betfred Cup at Rugby Park yesterday.

And the SFWA Manager of the Year believes the Ayrshire club can go forward with confidence despite failing to reach the quarter-finals of the knockout competition.

Asked if this was a different Rangers team to the one he faced in the 2017/18 campaign, he said: “They are playing with more confidence.

"They have a good man in charge who knows what he is doing and has good people around him. They know what they are doing. They have improved the personnel on the pitch and as a team.

“I thought we were good in the game from start to finish. I ask my players to be competitive every week and they were competitive."

Clarke added: “We had chances to be in front, we hit the bar twice and their keeper made an unbelievable save. Was it a big moment? Possibly. It could have been a different afternoon, it might not, as Rangers are a good team.

“I thought we played well, with one little caveat. We didn’t defend too well in some instances. The goals were a consequence of our mistakes but we’ll work on that on the training pitch.

“I thought Daniel did well, he made some good saves and it’s important to have to good keepers competing for the jersey.”