Published Tuesday, 27 March 2012
Andy Little said the players had 'pride'. (© Getty)
Victory for the Hoops at Ibrox on Sunday would have allowed them to clinch the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title at the home of their great rivals.
But the beleaguered reigning Scottish champions ensured there would be no championship party on their own turf with a win which Little believes was all down to the right attitude from the players despite a traumatic period.
Rangers were plunged into administration last month, with the playing staff subsequently agreeing to wage cuts of up to 75% in a bid to avoid widespread redundancies.
Little said: "Every single player just showed they didn't want to be beaten. That really came through and we had a lot of pride.
"We used all the bad stuff which has happened to us to our advantage and it was absolutely superb. The attitude from every single one of our players was unreal."
Goals from Sone Aluko, Little and Lee Wallace saw Rangers race into a commanding lead, as Cha Du-Ri and Victor Wanyama both saw red for the Hoops.
Carlos Bocanegra was then ordered off as the home side's numbers were also depleted late on and Scott Brown converted from the resultant penalty, before Thomas Rogne pulled another goal back deep into injury time.
Little added: "Winning was the main thing. We had a silly last five minutes but up until then we were unbelievable and the boys who started deserve a lot of credit.
"We played to our strengths. Our back three were superb and we ran the midfield as well. We benefited from having an extra body in there."
Little - who has seen much of his Ibrox career blighted by injury - netted the second goal with his first touch of the ball just seconds after coming off the bench.
And the striker says his confidence is sky high as he aims to make the most of the game-time he has been handed in recent weeks.
He told Blues News: "It was unbelievable and it's still sinking in. The gaffer told me to go and get a goal and it was great to score.
"When I was sitting on the bench, I was thinking about how good it would be to score and I was planning my celebration but I think I just went mad when the ball went in.
"I'm loving every minute at the moment and it hasn't just been in the last four or five games. I've been feeling really good for a few months and I've been scoring in reserve games.
"It is a confidence thing I suppose. I've focused on playing up front again and scoring goals is what I want to do."