GLASGOW (AFP) ? Rangers boss Ally McCoist believes the 2-0 win over St Johnstone could prove the key to overturning a 1-0 Champions League deficit against Malmo in Sweden in midweek.
The Old Firm club have made a stuttering start to their season with a 1-1 opening day draw with Hearts followed by defeat to Malmo in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier at Ibrox.
McCoist had travelled to McDiarmid Park knowing anything less than victory in the match would have seen him make the worst start in charge of any Rangers manager.
However his worries were eased when Steven Naismith headed home his 50th Scottish Premier League goal to give Rangers a 31st minute opener.
The striker then set up Nikica Jelavic to add a second five minutes after the break to seal the manager?s first competitive win.
"The fitness levels looked better and the boys looked sharper and it was very encouraging," said McCoist.
"It was very warm out there and in the last 15 minutes certainly it looked like it was going to take a little bit of a toll on all of the players.
"But in terms in sharpness and fitness you would have to say it is certainly the best it has been this season so I have got to say we are really encouraged by this result.
"I firmly believe that on chances created in the second-half against Malmo that we can turn it around.
"Even against St Johnstone we created a fantastic number of goal-scoring opportunities and I believe we will do that over in Malmo.
"I really believe that if we take them we will win the game."
McCoist, who is hopeful new signing Dorin Goian will be able to play in the match against Malmo despite problems with his registration, said he had not given up hope of signing Dundee United striker David Goodwillie despite the interest of Blackburn Rovers.
"We still want to bring players in; it's a well known fact," the Gers boss said.
"The players that we've got we're delighted with but we do want to add to it and have a good squad of players.
"We want a squad of players who can go and compete at all levels and until we have that we won't be happy.
"I've made no secret of the fact we'd love to bring David Goodwillie to Rangers and we are big fans of the player.
"But at this moment in time I believe he is still a Dundee United player. I know Blackburn have got an interest as well. If he was to leave Dundee United then obviously we would be keen to sign him."
Naismith says the Rangers players had a point to prove.
And Naismith, who netted the equaliser against Hearts last weekend, said it was important to get their first win after a disappointing start to the campaign.
"I think when any new manager comes in they want to get off to a good start," the Scotland striker said.
"Although we've not needed to change much in the background or training I think it was just important to get the win. I'm sure he will be delighted.
"The start to the season has been a bit disappointing. In the Hearts game we started slow but in the second-half we probably had enough chances to win the game.
"And then during the week our performance in the Champions League game wasn't good enough.
"So we knew we had a point to prove and against St Johnstone we did that."
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