The drama of Scottish football continues as Rangers secure a tactical edge for their upcoming Old Firm showdown with Celtic. In a move akin to reorganizing a hectic schedule, the Gers have chosen to withdraw their request to postpone their fixture against St Mirren.
Russell Martin Under Pressure
Rangers have had a challenging start to the Premiership season. Under manager Russell Martin, they’ve faced criticism after disappointing 1-1 draws against both Motherwell and Dundee. Martin openly criticized his squad after the Motherwell draw, but his words did little to inspire improvement in the subsequent match against Dundee.
European Journey: A Mixed Bag
On the European front, Rangers have shown glimpses of promise. They secured an impressive 3-0 home victory against Viktoria Plzen in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier. However, this was followed by a surprising 2-1 defeat in the return leg.
Strategic Benefits from St Mirren Decision
Choosing to play against St Mirren rather than postpone has significant defensive benefits. Nasser Djiga, who was red-carded against Dundee, will now serve his suspension against St Mirren, ensuring his availability for the crucial Celtic clash. This decision allows Martin to rely on his first-choice center-back duo for the Old Firm game.
- Nasser Djiga: Sent off against Dundee, will serve suspension against St Mirren.
- John Souttar: Key defensive partner for Djiga.
The defensive pairing of Djiga and Souttar has been central to the team, contributing to a record of 2 wins and 3 draws with no losses in their 5 starts.
Opportunity for New Signing
The match against St Mirren could also offer summer signing Emmanuel Fernandez a chance to impress. However, Rangers should be cautious, as they haven’t tasted victory in their last two visits to Paisley.
Champions League Implications
Playing St Mirren does pose a risk of a physical game prior to their Champions League play-off, potentially against RB Salzburg or Club Brugge. A successful qualification for the Champions League main round would significantly bolster Rangers’ financial and transfer strategy, much like how a successful bet justifies investing in a new 85-inch TV for “professional analysis purposes.”
With these considerations in play, Rangers are poised to tackle both domestic and European challenges as they look forward to their encounter with arch-rivals Celtic.