Saturday morning and I’m up at 6am with the kids so thought I’d take a quick look at today’s early afternoon tie with St Mirren
Rangers will look to bounce back after no victories in our last three outings and less than convincing performances certainly in the last two. With only one goal in our last three we have hit a bumpy patch recently so our attacking players will have to up their game today
In our last game against St Mirren we won 2-0 at Ibrox thanks to early goals from Alfredo and Connor Goldson, however a red card from Ross McCrorie meant Rangers were unable to increase that score line, in the first thirty minutes with a full complement we were by far the better side
However we never find it easy in Paisley, only one win in our last three, a 2-2 draw in our last trip under Mark Warburton on championship duty back in 2016. We did win 0-1 back in 2015 under Mark Warburton were, if I remember correctly, Jason Holt grabbed the winner. However back in 2011 we lost 2-1 in a game were Rangers season was quickly unravelling.
So I expect a tough encounter and I expect Rangers to face a well organised defensive opponent.
In the last four matches Rangers have lined up 4-3-3 with that being interchangeable during games to 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-1-1, Ovie Ejaria is once again fit so I would expect him to start.
Will Steven Gerrard start Andy Halliday at left back after underperformance from Jon Flanagan? Will Allan McGregor come back in? Will Eros Grezda start his first Rangers match? Does Lassana Coulibaly start despite underperforming recently?
I do expect changes
I would go – McGregor, Tav, Goldson, Katic, Halliday, Jack, Arfield, Ejaria, Kent, Grezda, Morelos
I expect Gerrard will go – McGregor, Tav, Goldson, Worrall, Halliday, Jack, Arfield, Ejaria, Kent, Candeias, Morelos
As for St Mirren they have played seven games under their new manager and kept only one clean sheet in seven (against our rivals in a 0-0 draw in Paisley) they have struggled to score goals and misfired in five of these including recent 2-0 defeats to Motherwell and St Johnstone.
Recently at home however they were narrowly beaten 0-1 and 1-2 by Hibs and Kilmarnock as well as that 0-0 with Celtic. It’s clear they will be tough, well organised and disciplined
Rangers will have to up our tempo, return to the high press and look to capitalise when the chances do come. We don’t have many more chances in the league and must start to pick up three points, starting this afternoon in Paisley.
Play up Glasgow Rangers
Ignore the nonsense, the irrelevant and the noise 🔴⚪️🔵
Four Lads Had A Dream 