RANGERS will look to address their terrible away record as they travel to Dens Park on Thursday night to take on eighth-placed Dundee.
Rangers failed to build on their convincing Old Firm victory on Sunday as they dropped more points on their travels, as despite leading 0-2 and 2-3, they drew 3-3 with Hibernian in a match where I correctly backed a high-scoring encounter.
Phillipe Clement’s side have now won just three of their 10 Premiership clashes away from home (W3-D3-L4), dropping points in each of their last three in draws at Hibs and Motherwell and defeat at St Mirren on Boxing Day.
Dundee bounced back from their agonising defeat at home to city-rivals Dundee United, as they won 1-3 away at rock-bottom St Johnstone on Sunday to move 10 points clear of the Perthshire club.
Whilst that’s now back-back wins away from home for the first time this season, Tony Docherty’s side have lost each of their last two and five of their past eight (W3-D0-L5) Premiership encounters in front of their supporters.
How the bookies view it: Gers Favourites
BoyleSports makes Rangers 2/7 favourites to claim just their fourth away win in the Premiership this season.
The same firm has a home success at 7/1, whilst the draw is 4/1.
Head to head: Gers dominance against The Dark Blues
Rangers are unbeaten in each of their past 15 meetings with Dundee, winning 13 of them (W13-D2-L0).
Dundee’s last success in this fixture came in a 2-1 victory at Dens Park in November 2017.
Players to watch: Another Hamza bonanza?
Hamza Igamane bagged a perfect hat-trick last time out, with the Moroccan starlet now netting 10 goals in his last 11 appearances for The Teddy Bears, with six of those coming across their past four Premiership encounters on the road.
Simon Murray is the Dark Blues top scorer in the Premiership this campaign, with the boyhood Dundee fan netting on eight occasions, with half of those coming across their last three matches.
Probable line-ups
Dundee could only name five outfield players on the bench in their victory at St Johnstone on Sunday, with the likes of Ziyad Larkeche, Scott Fraser, Joe Shaughnessy, Antonio Portales, Jordan McGhee and Billy Koumetio all missing.
Rangers have a defensive crisis, as they will be without captain James Tavernier, John Souttar, Neraysho Kasanwirjo, Leon Balogun, Dujon Sterling and goalkeeper Jack Butland, whilst stand-in captain Nico Raskin is suspended.
Dundee: Carson, Robertson, Astley, Graham, Cameron, Mulligan, Sylla, Tiffoney, Adewumi, Murray, Palmer-Houlden
Rangers: Kelly, Yilmaz, Propper, King, Jefte, Barron, Diomande, Hagi, Bajrami, Cerny, Igamane
Anything else catch the eye?
Dundee’s opening 21 contests in the Scottish Premiership this season have averaged a league-high 3.33 goals per game, with Over 2.5 Goals paying out in 15 (71%) of them.
Those numbers rise even further when playing at home, with their 10 Premiership fixtures at Dens Park averaging a staggering four goals per game, with Over 2.5 Goals banking in all 10 (100%) of them, with nine (90%) also producing goals at both ends.
Whatsmore, there have been an eye-catching 13 goals scored across Rangers’s previous three Premiership clashes on the road – with Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 Goals paying out in each of them – and I’m expecting the goals to continue to flow at Dens Park on Thursday night.
This Scottish Premiership match between Dundee and Rangers will be played on Jan 9, 2025 and kick off at 20:00. Check below for our tipsters best Dundee vs Rangers prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
