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Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 20
Feb 14, 2024 at 7.45pm UK
Ibrox Stadium
Ross County
Rangers
vs.
Ross County

Preview: Rangers vs. Ross County - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Wednesday's Scottish Premiership clash between Rangers and Ross County, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Fresh from their Scottish Cup victory last weekend, Rangers resume their Scottish Premiership title charge when they welcome Ross County to Ibrox on Wednesday night.

The Gers meet the Staggies for the first time since August last year when they claimed a 2-0 victory at Victoria Park.


Match preview

Rangers manager Philippe Clement on February 6, 2024© Reuters

Since losing to Old Firm rivals Celtic in their final fixture of 2023, Rangers have won seven games in a row across all competitions, including Saturday's 2-0 home victory over Championship outfit Ayr United in the Scottish Cup fifth round.

Left-back Borna Barisic opened the scoring in the 10th minute with his first goal of the season, before January loan signing Fabio Silva sealed the victory with a strike on the 76-minute mark to help the Gers set up a quarter-final tie away against Hibernian next month.

Philippe Clement's side shift their focus back to the Scottish Premiership where they have mounted a serious challenge for the title since the Belgian's arrival in mid-October, following a run of 14 wins from 16 games, scoring 37 goals in the process.

Rangers currently six second in the table but have the chance to climb to the summit on goal difference if they beat Ross County by at least three goals on Wednesday, something the Gers have only achieved five times in their last 22 meetings.

Nevertheless, Clement's men will be confident of claiming maximum points having beaten the Staggies in each of their last five league encounters as well as each of their last eight matches at Ibrox.

Ross County, meanwhile, have never celebrated victory over Rangers in their top-flight history in 20 previous attempts, losing 16 of their last 17 such clashes.

The Staggies head into Wednesday's contest in miserable form having failed to win any of their last nine matches in all tournaments, most recently suffering a heavy 5-0 defeat away against Motherwell.

That drubbing by the Steelman sparked the resignation of manager Derek Adams, who decided to abruptly end his third spell in charge of the club after overseeing just 12 games over a 79-day period, winning only twice in the process.

Ross County have since announced that assistant coach Don Cowie will take the reins on an interim basis, and although the 40-year-old has aspirations to become a manager, he has revealed that the Staggies "are not actively looking" for a permanent replacement just yet.

Cowie, who made over 190 appearances for Ross County as a player, is fully aware that he is in for a baptism of fire against Rangers, but he hopes to "steady the ship" and inspire his side to a positive result at Ibrox.

Rangers Scottish Premiership form:


Rangers form (all competitions):


Ross County Scottish Premiership form:


Ross County form (all competitions):



Team News

Rangers' Rabbi Matondo celebrates scoring their first goal with Todd Cantwell on February 6, 2024© Reuters

Rangers quartet Abdallah Sima (thigh), Danilo (knee), Kieran Dowell (knock) and Kemar Roofe (knock), all remain sidelined with injuries, while Leon Balogun will be assessed ahead of kickoff having missed the last two games with a facial injury.

Dujon Sterling is available for selection after serving a suspension last time out, although he is unlikely to displace either James Tavernier or Borna Barisic at full-back, while Ryan Jack, Nicolas Raskin and Mohamed Diomande could all retain their places in midfield.

January signing Oscar Cortes claimed the Man of the Match award on his full debut for Rangers last weekend and will hope to keep his place on the left flank, while Todd Cantwell will be pushing to start ahead of Scott Wright on the right, as Silva and Cyriel Dessers battle for a start up front.

As for Ross County, Scott Allardice, Ross Callachan (both knee), Ryan Leak, Dylan Smith (both ankle), Ross Laidlaw (calf), Connor Randall and Jack Baldwin (both unspecified) all remain sidelined with injuries.

The absence of Laidlaw will likely see George Wickens continue between the sticks, with Cameron Borthwick-Jackson set to start alongside Will Nightingale and Loick Ayina in the back three amid the club's injury crisis.

Yan Dhanda will hope to provide a creative spark in the number 10 role, but striker Jordan White is at risk of being replaced by Eamonn Brophy having not scored in any of his last nine appearances over the last two-and-a-half months.


Rangers possible starting lineup:
Butland; Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar, Barisic; Jack, Raskin; Cantwell, Diomande, Cortes; Dessers

Ross County possible starting lineup:
Wickens; Ayina, Nightingale, Borthwick-Jackson; Brown, Jenks, Loturi, Harmon; Dhanda; Brophy, Murray


SM words green background

We say: Rangers 2-0 Ross County

Rangers will be regarded as firm favourites to claim maximum points and will be motivated by the prospect of moving to the Premiership summit.

Ross County will be required to put in a dogged defensive display and take the few chances that may come their way in the final third if they wish to come out on top, However, it is difficult to back against a rampant Gers outfit on home soil.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.




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Data Pass: [t, scottish-premiership, odds, 3695518]

Who will win Wednesday's Scottish Premiership clash between Rangers and Ross County?

Rangers
Draw
Ross County
Rangers
92.3%
Draw
2.6%
Ross County
5.1%
39
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Celtic25194257174061
2RangersRangers24191450123858
3Hearts25153733221148
4Kilmarnock259972826236
5St Mirren25105102929035
6Dundee247893339-629
7Hibernian2468102939-1026
8Motherwell2451093236-425
9Aberdeen2367102636-1025
10St Johnstone2559111732-1524
11Ross County2347121938-1919
12Livingston2527161542-2713

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