Chief coach of Rangers international Mbwas Mangut has expressed disappointment over his side’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Match Day 16 defeat to Katsina United on Thursday at the Muhammadu Dikko stadium in Katsina, but remains optimistic the 7-time league champions will return to winning ways in their next game.

Rasheed Ahmed and Joseph Atule scored either side of half time to hand the Changi Boys their first win in 5 matches, a result that also moved Baldwin Bazuaye’s side out of the relegation zone to 16th on the log, with 18 points from 16 matches.

The defeat also meant Rangers, who started the match on top of the standings, dropped to 4th with 27 points from 16 matches, but with an inferior goal difference compared to Nasarawa United and Kwara United, who both have the same points as the Flying Antelopes.

Speaking after the match, the former Enyimba and Heartland star blamed the loss on the inability of his team to defend properly.

“It’s a little bit disappointing because we really worked towards this game,” Mangut said.

“We planned lots of strategies, though, we weren’t able to react in the transition from the attack to the defence. We were a little bit slow today (Thursday).

“We were not able to defend properly, and for that, the Katsina team took advantage and got their goals.”

Rangers return home to battle leaders Nasarawa United in Enugu on Sunday in a Match Day 17 encounter, and Mangut made it clear that the target is to claim the maximum points at stake against the Solid Miners.

“Well, for me, in every game we plan for three maximum points, and for that Nasarawa (game), having lost today (Thursday), we have no option than to go there and fight for the maximum three points for us to be able to stay in contention,” he concluded.