Rangers will look to bounce back from another European disappointment on Sunday afternoon as they travel to the Falkirk Stadium to take on newly-promoted Falkirk in the Scottish Premiership.
Rangers have begun their Europa League league phase campaign by losing each of their opening two matches, as they followed up their 0-1 defeat at home to Genk by losing 2-1 away at Sturm Graz, on an evening where both of my selections landed.
The Teddy Bears travelled to Graz off the back of their first Premiership win on the sixth attempt of trying, as a stoppage-time strike from Max Aarons defeated the other newly-promoted side, Livingston, 1-2.
Rangers have now won their last two domestic fixtures, also defeating Hibs at Ibrox in their League Cup quarter final, but look far from convincing under their under-fire boss Russell Martin.
Falkirk come into this clash off the back of a defeat, as they were beaten 3-0 at Tynecastle by Premiership leaders Hearts, on an afternoon where SlipsTips landed another winning selection.
However, John McGlynn’s men will take confidence from their last home encounter where they came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Hibs, their second Desmond scoreline at home already this campaign.
How the bookies view it: Gers unconvincing favourites
The bookmakers make Rangers favourites to follow up their first Premiership win of the season last Sunday, with BoyleSports pricing an away success at 7/10.
Falkirk are 11/4 to chalk up their first home success since promotion back to the Scottish top flight, whilst the draw is 3/1.
Head to head: Rangers dominance
This is a fixture Rangers tend to dominate, with The Teddy Bears winning 22 of their previous 27 meetings with Falkirk.
However, The Bairns will take confidence from the fact that they have won two of the past three meetings between the sides at the Falkirk Stadium, when both were in the Championship in the 2015/16 season.
Players to watch: Gassman Gers main threat
Rangers' main tactic on Thursday night appeared to be just to give the ball to Djeidi Gassama and hope the French winger could produce a moment of magic, something he did do at the beginning of the second half to get Rangers back in the game.
That was Gassama’s fifth goal for Rangers since signing from Sheffield Wednesday – albeit all five have come in Europe – and he is 2/1 at BoyleSports to score his first Premiership goal on Sunday.
Predicted line-ups:
John McGlynn is expected to be without Ethan Ross, Aidan Nesbitt and Kyrell Wilson
Rangers will once again be without defender Dujon Sterling and midfielder Lyall Cameron, but Mohamed Diomande is available after his European suspension.
Falkirk: Bain, Adams, Lissah, Henderson, McCann, Spencer, Cartwright, Miller, Tait, Williams, MacIver
Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Souttar, Cornelius, Meghoma, Raskin, Barron, Antman, Aasgaard, Gassama, Miovski
Anything else catch the eye?
Rangers put in another defensive disaster against Sturm Graz on Thursday night, particularly in the first half, meaning they have incredibly now failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their previous 22 away matches.
Six of The Gers' opening seven away contests this term have produced goals at both ends – the only exception being that humiliating 6-0 in Brugge – whilst four of their past five have seen three or more goals.
Falkirk’s opening three home encounters since promotion back to the Scottish top flight have seen Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 Goals land (2-2, 1-2 & 2-2), and a repeat pays 20/23 at BoyleSports which appeals to me here.
GambleAware