Rangers will look to bounce back from their Europa League exit on Thursday night as they welcome St Mirren to Ibrox in the last-16 of the Scottish League Cup.
Rangers’ disastrous start to the season continued on Thursday night, as they were eliminated from the Europa League by Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok 3-2 on aggregate.
Lawrence Shankland had given the Teddy Bears the lead on the night and levelled the tie from the spot in the first half, but ex-Oxford United striker Nik Prelec headed home halfway through the second half to send the Poles through – and land me a 4/5 winner.
That draw in Govan on Thursday night now means that Derek McInnes has failed to win any of his opening four matches in charge of his boyhood club.
St Mirren were tipped by many as one of the favourites for relegation this season after surviving the relegation playoff last season, but Craig McLeish’s visitors have shut up many of their critics with their start to the campaign.
The Buddies began their Premiership campaign with a 0-2 victory away at Falkirk, before edging the battle of the Saints thanks to a Killian Phillips penalty last weekend against St Johnstone.
How the bookies view it: Gers clear favourites
Despite the fact they are still searching for their first win this campaign, Rangers are short-priced favourites to advance to the quarter-finals, with bet365 pricing them at just 2/11 To Qualify, whilst the win inside 90 minutes is 4/11.
The Buddies’ are 7/2 to heap more misery on the Teddy Bears, with the win inside regulation time at 5/1.
Head to head: Two wins on the spin for the Gers
Rangers have won each of their last two meetings with St Mirren, with both of those wins coming by a single-goal margin.
Prior to that, St Mirren were unbeaten in each of their previous four clashes with the Glasgow giants.
Players to watch: Killian to continue his hot-form
St Mirren have Killian Phillips to thank for winning their opening two Premiership fixtures this season, as he has scored all three of the Buddies’ goals.
The Irishman has also found the target in this competition this term, and is an appealing 4/1 at bet365 to get on the scoresheet for the third consecutive game for St Mirren.
Backed a player to find the net? Check our Goalscorer Betting guide to see how the markets work and where to find value.
Predicted line-ups:
Rangers will be without Ben Godfrey, Tuur Rommens and Youssef Chermiti due to injury.
St Mirren will be without the injured Ryan Mullen, Keanu Baccus and Jonah Ayunga.
Rangers: Pandur, Sterling, Fernandez, Makhanya, Yokota, Devlin, Raskin, Aasgaard, Curtis, Shankland, Miovski
St Mirren: Chapman, Richardson, Fraser, Gogic, John, Carr, Donnelly, Ramos, Phillips, Mochrie, Sule
Anything else catch the eye?
Given how they’ve started this season, it’s hard to have any confidence in Rangers at those prices, meaning I’m happy to back St Mirren +1.5 Asian Handicap – a selection that has paid out in each of the last nine meetings between the pair.
This would mean that even if Rangers win by a one-goal margin in 90 minutes, we will still see our selection land.
Both Teams to Score has now paid out in each of Rangers’ last 12 matches in all competitions, and a repeat pays an appealing 10/11 at bet365.
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