Kilmarnock v Rangers preview: Team news, head-to-head, line-ups, where to watch
Barry Ferguson takes interim charge of Rangers for the first time on Wednesday as they face Kilmarnock in the Premiership.
Rangers travel to Rugby Park three days after finally parting ways with Philippe Clement at Ibrox, sacking the Belgian following a 2-0 defeat at home to St Mirren which ended their five-match winning streak.
As a result, Ferguson has returned to Ibrox to take temporary charge until the end of the season, leading an interim team of former Rangers players including Neil McCann, Billy Dodds and Alan McGregor.
Their first task is to take the Light Blues to a ground they’ve already struggled at this season; October’s 1-0 defeat at Rugby Park being one of the first instances to suggest that Clement was on borrowed time.
Kilmarnock v Rangers preview
The post-Clement era kicks off at Rangers with Ferguson and his interim team having barely two days’ worth of training at Auchenhowie, with a squad seemingly devoid of, ideas, quality and certainly desire.
That 2-0 home loss against St Mirren, coming after the Gers had won five on the bounce by two or more goals, rightfully proved to be the end of the road for Clement, with his coaching staff also departing.
Rangers therefore face a quick turnaround ahead of their trip to Rugby Park, and after the turgid displays constantly served up away from home under Clement, Wednesday’s match represents a fresh start.
Killie are in inconsistent form themselves, and having climbed away from the relegation zone with back-to-back wins over Dundee United and St Johnstone, suffered a late 1-0 defeat to Aberdeen last time out.
Form Guide (Scottish Premiership)
Kilmarnock: LDLWWL
Rangers: WWWWWL
Head-To-Head
Rangers 6-0 Kilmarnock (December 2024)
Kilmarnock 1-0 Rangers (October 2024)
Rangers 4-1 Kilmarnock (May 2024)
Kilmarnock 1-2 Rangers (February 2024)
Rangers 3-1 Kilmarnock (January 2024)
Team News
With Clement sacked and his favourites in the Rangers side no longer having their places secured, Ferguson and the interim coaching team could make as many as four changes to the XI at Rugby Park.
Veteran stalwarts like Jack Butland, James Tavernier and Cyriel Dessers could all drop out of the side which dismally lost to St Mirren, as could Clinton Nsiala after an error-strewn display against the Saints.
The likes of Liam Kelly, Rafael Fernandes, Danilo and the returning John Souttar could all be given chances to impress in Ayrshire, but with just two days to get to know the squad, that remains to be seen.
Kilmarnock are still without Kyle Vassell – who ran Souttar and Robin Propper ragged at Rugby Park in October – through injury, with Oxford United loanee Stuart Findlay also out until early March.
Predicted lineups
Rangers: Kelly, Fernandes, Souttar, Propper, Jefte, Raskin, Diomande, Cerny, Hagi, Danilo, Igamane
St Mirren: O’Hara, Lyons, Wright, Mayo, Deas, Donnelly, Polworth, Ndaba, Anderson, Watkins, Murray
Where to watch Kilmarnock v Rangers
Rangers’ match against Kilmarnock kicks off at 8pm GMT on Wednesday, 26 February at Rugby Park, with the game available to watch on Sky Sports Football and to listen via Sportsound on BBC Scotland.
Prediction: Kilmarnock 1-2 Rangers
Ferguson’s arrival barely 48 hours before kick-off needs to yield an instant reaction if Rangers’ season is to avoid falling further into the doldrums, and the ex-Gers captain will certainly be hoping he gets one.
That 1-0 loss at Rugby Park was followed up by a 6-0 home win for Rangers at Ibrox in December, and while the Gers have the necessary quality to win this game, it’ll be much tougher than the reverse fixture.