Briefly shifting their focus away from Champions League qualification, Rangers travel to Victoria Park to face Ross County in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday lunchtime.
The two teams have made an identical start to the new top-flight season, losing their opening game before claiming maximum points in their second fixture two weeks ago.
Match preview
© Reuters
There was a feeling of deja vu at Ibrox on Wednesday night as Rangers and PSV Eindhoven played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in the first leg of their Champions League playoff tie, a year on from sharing the spoils by the same scoreline, in the same stadium and in the same round of the competition.
The Dutch visitors pegged back the hosts twice to rescue a draw, with Ibrahim Sangare firstly cancelling out a first-half opener from Abdallah Sima before Rabbi Matondo's 76th-minute strike was followed just four minute later by an equaliser from Luuk de Jong.
Michael Beale would certainly welcome the feeling of deja vu once again next week if it ensures that his Rangers side – who beat PSV 1-0 in the second leg at this stage last season – can advance to the Champions League group stage in 2023-24.
Since losing 1-0 to Kilmarnock on the opening weekend of the new Scottish Premiership season, Rangers have put together a five-game unbeaten run in all competitions, although the Gers have looked vulnerable in defence as they have only kept one clean sheet during this period.
Nevertheless, Rangers will be confident of extending their unbeaten run on Saturday as they have never lost any of their previous 21 meetings against Ross County in all competitions.
© Reuters
Ross County head to Ibrox after securing back-to-back wins against St Johnstone in the Premiership and Airdrieonians in the Scottish League Cup, beating the latter in a seven-goal thriller after extra time last weekend.
Leading 3-1 heading into the final 10 minutes of their second-round tie, the Staggies conceded two late goals to send the contest into extra time, but Eamonn Brophy saved the visitors' bacon when he came off the substitutes' bench to net a 101st-minute match-winner against their Championship counterparts.
Malky Mackay's side have been rewarded with a quarter-final home tie against Aberdeen at the end of next month, but they must first turn their attention back to the Premiership and will endeavour to claim their second successive top-flight home win on Saturday after beating St Johnstone 2-0 on August 12.
Ross County have frustrated Rangers in their last two home encounters but they were unable to claim maximum points, firstly rescuing a 3-3 draw in January 2022 thanks to a 96th-minute equaliser from Matthew Wright before suffering a slender 1-0 defeat last December courtesy of a first-half strike from John Lundstram.
- L
- W
- L
- W
Team News
© Reuters
Ross County duo Ross Callachan and Ben Paton remain sidelined with ACL injuries, while Yan Dhanda is unlikely to feature on Saturday after missing the win over Airdrieonians with a hip problem.
Mackay will ponder whether to switch to a back five, which could see Jack Baldwin, Ryan Leak and George Harmon start at centre-back in between James Brown and Josh Sims at wing-back.
After scoring as a substitute last time out, Brophy will be looking to force his way into the first XI ahead of either Simon Murray or Jordan White.
As for Rangers, Steven Davis and Ridvan Yilmaz are yet to make an appearance this season as they continue to recover from respective ACL and muscle injuries, while Ben Davies recovered from illness to watch on as an unused substitute in midweek and he should provide competition at centre-back for Connor Goldson and John Souttar on Saturday.
Beale may be tempted to freshen up his starting lineup with one eye on next week's second-leg tie with PSV, with Sam Lammers and Danilo pushing to start in attack at the expense of Sima and Cyriel Dessers.
There could also be changes made in midfield, with Lundstram and Kieran Dowell set to battle for starting spots along with Jose Cifuentes, Ryan Jack and Nicolas Raskin.
Ross County possible starting lineup:
Laidlaw; Baldwin, Leak, Harmon; Brown, Randall, Loturi, Turner, Sims; Brophy, White
Rangers possible starting lineup:
Butland; Tavernier, Goldson, Davies, Barisic; Raskin, Lundstram, Dowell; Cantwell, Danilo, Lammers
We say: Ross County 1-2 Rangers
Having already scored twice against reigning champions Celtic this season, albeit in a 4-2 defeat, Ross County will fancy their chances of finding the net against a leaky Rangers backline.
However, the Gers should have enough quality in their side to outscore their opponents and grind out a victory on Saturday, even if Beale decides to make several changes to his lineup.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
