Rangers are set to travel to BBSP Stadium Rugby Park on Sunday afternoon to face Kilmarnock, aiming to stay within touching distance of the top two in the Scottish Premiership.
The visitors sit third in the table, five points adrift from the top two, while the hosts are in ninth place, just two points clear of the relegation zone.
Match preview
© Imago
After securing their first Scottish Premiership title in nine years with an unbeaten campaign and an impressive 102 points in 2020-21, Rangers have gradually fallen further behind Celtic in the years since.
Their bitter rivals have lifted the trophy in each of the following three seasons, a streak that Rangers and Philippe Clement would have been determined to break this campaign.
Despite the Gers having a largely positive start to the campaign, claiming 16 points from the first 21 available, they still find themselves five points adrift from the top two, with Aberdeen and Celtic having won all seven league fixtures thus far.
Clement's side did struggle at the beginning of the campaign, winning just one of their opening four matches across all competitions, with two draws and one defeat, but they have been vastly improved in the following games.
They have gone on to win seven of their last nine outings, falling to defeats against Celtic and Lyon, a strong run of form that they will be aiming to continue with another victory on Sunday.
Rangers will certainly be the favourites heading into the matchup, with their hosts languishing towards the bottom of the Scottish Premiership table, sitting ninth with only six points from seven fixtures.
Kilmarnock's start to the campaign is particularly disappointing having finished fourth in the division last season, earning them a chance at competing in European football.
Derek McInnes's side failed to capitalise on that opportunity, being eliminated from the Europa League in the second qualifying round by Cercle Brugge and from the Conference League in the playoff round by FC Copenhagen.
Their struggles in Europe carried over into domestic competitions, as Kilmarnock lost all of their first four domestic matches, three in the league and one in the second round of the Scottish League Cup.
Killie finally earned their first point in the Scottish Premiership on matchday five with a 1-1 draw against Hibernian, sparking a run of three successive draws, before eventually securing their first three points of the campaign as they defeated Dundee 3-2 last time out.
Kilmarnock looked destined for a fourth loss in the league as they found themselves 2-0 down going into the final five minutes, but goals in the 86th, 88th and 94th minutes saw McInnes's side fantastically triumph.
Team News
![Stuart Findlay defender of Kilmarnock FC during the UEFA Europa League Second qualifying round, 2nd leg match between Cercle Brugge and Kilmarnock F.C. at the Jan Breydel stadium on August 01, 2024 [on August 2, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/31/stuart-findlay.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Stuart Findlay defender of Kilmarnock FC during the UEFA Europa League Second qualifying round, 2nd leg match between Cercle Brugge and Kilmarnock F.C. at the Jan Breydel stadium on August 01, 2024 [on August 2, 2024]")
© Imago
The hosts will remain without the services of Kyle Magennis, who has been out of action since December 2023, but the midfielder is expected to return later this month.
A dominant performance in their first league win of the term in their last game could see McInnes opt to name the same starting team in this one, though goalscorer Bruce Anderson could come into the 11.
The Gers will be unable to call upon Danilo (knee), Oscar Cortes (knock), Rabbi Matondo (hamstring), Ridvan Yilmaz (thigh) and Tom Lawrence (hamstring) for this match.
Ianis Hagi has also been ruled out after the attacking midfielder received a red card in the 81st minute of the 2-0 win against Kilmarnock in their last outing.
Vaclav Cerny scored twice in that game, taking him level with Cyriel Dessers on three league goals this season, and both are expected to lineup in attack here.
Kilmarnock possible starting lineup:
McCrorie; Mayo, Deas, Ndaba; Armstrong, Lyons, Donnelly, Kennedy; Watson, Watkins; Vassell
Rangers possible starting lineup:
Butland; Tavernier, Souttar, Propper, Jefte; Diomande, Raskin; Cerny, Bajrami, McCausland; Dessers
We say: Kilmarnock 1-3 Rangers
While Kilmarnock will be in good spirits after recording their first league win in their last outing, courtesy of a phenomenal late comeback, Rangers are undoubtedly the stronger team heading into this one, leading us to believe the visitors will win here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
