Ferguson axes Nsiala in three changes – Rangers predicted XI v Motherwell
Barry Ferguson could drop both Jefte and Clinton Nsiala amid three changes to his Rangers side against Motherwell on Saturday.
Ferguson began his spell in interim charge of Rangers with a 4-2 victory over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on Wednesday, having come back from going 2-0 down inside the opening quarter of an hour.
Vaclav Cerny pulled a goal back before half-time and Cyriel Dessers‘ brace turned the game on its head after the break, with Nedim Bajrami coming off the bench in the second period to round off the scoring.
Ferguson, however, will be keen to ensure the Gers don’t give Motherwell a two-goal head start when they pitch up at Ibrox on Saturday, and as a result, changes aplenty could be coming in defence.
Ferguson to axe Clinton Nsiala after Kilmarnock nightmare
Ferguson’s attention will surely be focused on the backline after they cheaply gave away two goals inside 14 minutes at Rugby Park, with Joe Wright scoring from a corner before Brad Lyons’ superb finish.
The Gers boss took action just half an hour into Wednesday’s match, hooking Clinton Nsiala to bring on Ridvan Yilmaz and re-jigging the defence, with James Tavernier moving into central defence.
Nsiala is therefore likely to come out of the firing line against the Steelmen on Saturday, potentially opening an avenue for Lille loanee Rafael Fernandes to make his full debut in the Premiership.
Ridvan’s display off the bench – getting the assist for Dessers’ second goal – was also impressive enough to warrant a start, and despite coming on at right-back, he could displace Jefte on the left.
Hamza Igamane may have been Rangers’ shining light at times this season, but wasn’t able to impact Wednesday’s contest to the same extent as Dessers, and as a result could also be benched.
Nedim Bajrami to return for Rangers v Motherwell
With Fernandes and Ridvan expected to come in alongside Tavernier and Propper in a reshuffled Rangers rearguard, Ferguson will also be looking at exerting more control further up the pitch.
Kilmarnock were able to cut through the Gers’ midfield all too easily in the opening stages at Rugby Park, and as a result Ferguson may want to add extra bodies in the middle in place of Igamane.
| Kilmarnock | Statistic | Rangers |
| 2 | Goals | 4 |
| 1.34 | xG | 1.96 |
| 39 per cent | Possession | 61 per cent |
| 11 | Shots | 14 |
| 4 | Shots on Target | 7 |
Bajrami’s 12-minute cameo culminated with a goal to cap off the win, and he is the perfect candidate to slot into the number 10 role against Motherwell, playing in front of Mohamed Diomande and Nico Raskin.
With Dessers back in the goals having netted his 19th and 20th of the season for Rangers; Cerny and Ianis Hagi either side of him, Ferguson has more than enough firepower to rack up a second straight win.