Glasgow Rangers will aim to capitalize on their victory in the Scottish Cup semi-final against Hearts last week as they prepare to face St Mirren in their first post-split Premiership match.
With only five games remaining, the Light Blues must secure victories in all of them while also hoping for Celtic to drop points along the way.
Although it will be a challenging task, it is certainly not impossible. The crucial factor for Philippe Clement is to ensure that there are no more disappointing performances from now until the end of the season.
However, the Belgian manager will have to make some changes to his starting XI due to a few players being sidelined with injuries.
During his pre-match press conference, Clement stated, “Sima will be out, but I hope to see him back on the field before the season ends as he is highly motivated for that. Matondo suffered a bad tackle against Hearts and is uncertain for the weekend. Ridvan and Jack are expected to return to training next week.”
Considering these circumstances, let’s take a look at the potential starting XI that could take the field in Paisley for this crucial league match, which is the first of five.
Version 1:
1. Goalkeeper – Jack Butland
After conceding six goals in two matches against Celtic and Ross County, Butland has managed to keep two consecutive clean sheets. A third shutout would undoubtedly set Rangers on the path to securing three points in the top flight for the first time since the end of March.
Throughout the entire season, the Englishman has recorded an impressive 25 clean sheets in 52 matches, conceding only 43 goals since the beginning of the campaign. He has emerged as arguably the best signing made by the Gers last summer.
2. Right-back – James Tavernier
The captain failed to guide the Light Blues to maximum points against both Ross County and Dundee, which derailed their title challenge. His performance in the Scottish Cup semi-final against Hearts was solid but unspectacular, doing little to repair the damage. However, if he can add to his tally of 24 goals against St Mirren on Sunday, it could increase the pressure on Celtic to secure a result against Dundee.
Tavernier’s success will ultimately be judged by the trophies he wins when he eventually departs from Rangers. At this moment in time, he has the opportunity to contribute significantly to the team’s pursuit of success.
GET MORE RELATED CONTENT HERE ON SPORTWORDS.CO.UK
Leave a Reply