Managerless Rangers will look to get their first home Premiership victory of the season on Saturday afternoon as they welcome Dundee United to Ibrox.
Following a 1-1 draw away at newly-promoted Falkirk, the Rangers hierarchy finally decided to sack head coach Russell Martin after just 123 days in charge.
In truth, that decision should’ve been made weeks before, following their humiliating 6-0 thrashing against Club Brugge in the Champions League playoff round, coupled with failing to win any of their opening five Premiership matches of the campaign.
At the time of writing, Rangers have still yet to name Martin’s successor, with U19’s coach, and former fullback, Stevie Smith, expected to be in the dugout on Saturday.
It’s been a topsy-turvy campaign for Dundee United so far, with Jim Goodwin’s side picking up nine points from their opening seven Premiership matches.
The Tangerines travel to Govan off the back of a couple of disappointing results at Tannadice, losing 0-2 against Kilmarnock, before drawing 1-1 against newly-promoted Livingston.
How the bookies view it: Gers unconvincing favourites
Despite winning just one of their opening seven Premiership matches of the season, Rangers come into this clash as short-priced favourites, with BoyleSports quoting a home success at 4/11.
The same firm has Dundee United as 11/2 underdogs, whilst the draw is 15/4.
Head to head: Gers dominance
Rangers have dominated this fixture in recent seasons, as they have won seven of their previous eight meetings with The Tangerines (W7-D1-L0).
Dundee United’s last victory against The Teddy Bears came in a 1-0 victory at Tannadice in August 2021, whilst they have not won at Ibrox since 2014 in the Scottish Cup semi-finals.
Players to watch: Raskin continues to be Gers talisman
Despite a public fallout with former gaffer Russell Martin, Nicolas Raskin has still been one of the very few standout performers for Rangers in a humiliating start to the season for the Ibrox club, providing three assists and scoring one goal in his previous seven appearances.
The Belgian international also scored when these two clubs last met at Ibrox in May, and the 8/5 on offer for Raskin to Score or Assist on Saturday appeals to me here.
Predicted line-ups:
Despite returning to light training, Dijon Sterling will remain out for Rangers on Saturday.
Jim Goodwin will be without skipper Ross Graham through injury, as well as Max Watters, Owen Stirton and Isaac Pappoe.
Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Souttar, Cornelius, Meghoma, Raskin, Barron, Antman, Aasgaard, Gassama, Miovski
Dundee United: Kucherenko, Eskesen, Esselink, Keresztes, Stephenson, Sevelj, Camara, Ferry, Dolcek, Trapanovski, Sapsford
Anything else catch the eye?
Dundee United have failed to score just once across their opening seven Premiership matches this season (at home to Kilmarnock where they missed a penalty), scoring 2+ goals in five (71%) of them, including in all three away from home.
Jim Goodwin’s men possess the firepower to trouble a Rangers defence that has kept just two clean sheets across their last 11 matches in all competitions, meaning I like the 4/5 on offer at Bet365 for both teams to get on the scoresheet.
What’s more, the previous three meetings between the pair saw goals at both ends, with Rangers winning the last two 3-1, and I reckon we’ll see goals between these two once again at Ibrox on Saturday.
GambleAware