Rangers B boss Kevin Thomson admits the friendly clash with Albion Rovers was "a bit like a game of basketball".
The Rovers' first team lost 2-1 at Auchenhowie in a game that Thomson dubbed "scrappy" despite praising Brian Reid's side for being "streetwise" ahead of the start of the League Two season.
He heaped praise on the Cliftonhill men and dubbed it the "harsh reality of first-team football" for his young stars.
Thomson told Rangers TV : "It was a painful watch in the first half and I was quite disappointed with them [Rangers B] to be honest.
"We were disappointed with them in the first half but we tinkered with them a bit at half time and asked for a wee bit more from them and I think we got that in the second half.
"It got a wee bit scrappy in the end, a bit like a game of basketball, structurally there was a bit missing especially without the ball. When you are playing a men's team at first-team level they punish you on the wee silly things.
"It's a learning curve for our boys and I wanted to see them struggle.
"It's a different game for them. [Albion Rovers] are more streetwise at set-pieces, attacking the ball, putting the ball into dangerous areas, putting it in behind you, down your throat, centre-halfs having to chase back to their own goal.
"It's a new experience for quite a lot of our boys but the harsh reality is that's what first-team football looks like."
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