Tomorrow, Rangers take on Clyde, currently third from bottom of the table, having won four and lost two of their last six games, following on from a run of four straight defeats. Back in December, Rangers won the previous encounter at Ibrox 3-0, with goals from Lee Wallace, David Templeton,and Dean Sheils.

 

 

Rangers assistant manager KENNY McDOWALL has called on Rangers to finish the season with a flourish even although the squad will be even more youthful that normal when Clyde visit Ibrox tomorrow.

You have to go back to the end of February to find the last time Rangers won consecutive matches and McDowall wants straight wins in the remaining matches.

However, the first hurdle tomorrow will be awkward with as many as TEN players missing and that has prompted the promotion of kids Luca Gasparotto, Danny Stoney and Ryan Sinnamon.

The assistant manager said: “We’ve got four games to go three at home and we would like to think we would get maximum points.

“We are really stretched with 10 players out so we have had to add Ryan Sinnamon, Luca Gasparotto and Danny Stoney to the squad.

“Ryan and Danny are only 16 while Luca is 18 so we are going even younger now but it’s great experience for them. The boys are getting an opportunity and it’s up to them to take it.â€

Barrie McKay and Anestis Argyriou became the latest injury casualties in Wednesday’s friendly with Linfield with McKay facing 6-8 weeks out and possible surgery on a broken bone in his foot.

Andy Little, Ross Perry, Dean Shiels, Lewis Macleod, Darren Cole and Scott Gallacher are all out while Kane Hemmings is a doubt and Chris Hegarty is suspended.

McDowall says they simply have to handle it and he paid tribute to the squad for their efforts this season.

He said: “We have given the players full credit for a great season. It has been reported that they have not done well but we feel they have overcome a lot and to be 24 points ahead is remarkable for a group of boys that were put together late on.

“We have always said to the players that they will get the credit they deserve from us because we know how hard it is to win a title.

“We want to get back to the top league as quickly as possible and we have completed the first step towards that by winning the third Division title.â€

 

Meanwhile Ally McCoist has revealed that Barrie McKay may need surgery

 

 

ALLY McCOIST has revealed that Barrie McKay could need surgery on his foot problem as the manager contemplates a vastly depleted squad for tomorrow’s visit of Clyde.

 

18-year-old McKay is going to see a specialist on Monday after suffering the problem in Wednesday’s friendly with Linfield.

And if the prognosis is an operation then McCoist wants it done right away.

He told the official web site: “It’s disappointing for Barrie that his season is ending in this way.

“I have had a chat with him and if any surgery is needed then we are as well getting it done now.

“With the league title wrapped up the most important thing now is that he is ready to go for the start of the season.

“He is seeing the specialist on Monday and if anything is needing done then it will be done right away. Then he can get a break and he will be raring to go again.â€

Rangers are literally struggling for bodies for the Clyde clash with as many as TEN first team players missing.

Andy Little, Dean Shiels, Ross Perry, Lewis Macleod, Anestis Argyriou, Darren Cole and Scott Gallacher are all unavailable tomorrow as well as McKay.

While Kane Hemmings came off against Queen’s Park last week with a knock and Chris Hegarty is suspended.

Now McCoist is struggling to fill the bench and will have to look to the likes of Andy Mitchell, Andy Murdoch, Ryan Sinnamon and Luca Gasparotto.

 

 

 

Match Report:

 

Rangers 2-0 Clyde

 

 

RANGERS made it a clean sweep of four wins from four league matches against Clyde this season thanks to a 2-0 victory at Ibrox.

Lee McCulloch and Kyle Hutton’s second half strikes were enough to secure the win in the Light Blues’ first competitive outing at home since clinching the title.

Clyde formed a guard of honour to applaud the home side on to the pitch before kick-off and the visitors didn’t quite get going in the first half.

There was a bright start to the opening period with Lee Wallace and David Templeton combining well on the left before the former played in Lee McCulloch.

The captain couldn’t quite get a touch on the ball and the same was true minutes later when Templeton’s through ball was just a little heaving for his skipper.

Rangers were undeterred however and Kyle Hutton was next to try his luck from distance with just ten minutes on the clock.

His effort was deflected however and ultimately well dealt with by Jamie Barclay in the Clyde goal.

The visitors were struggling to get a foothold in the game and midfielder Kevin Nicholl went in the book when he flew in to a challenge on Hutton after being warned moments before for a similar effort on Ian Black.

It seemed to knock the home side off their stride a little, but they continued to dominate and McCulloch came close to opening the scoring before the half hour.

Again Barclay did well to smother at the back post as the skipper tried to squeeze it home from a tight angle.

It was during Fraser Aird’s most productive spell as he cut in to work Barclay on the half hour mark before trying to pick out McCulloch with an inswinging cross minutes later.

Arguably the closest Rangers came in the first period though was when Wallace broke forward from deep and saw his shot well saved low to Barclay’s right.

However the best chance came with four minutes of the half remaining when Templeton headed wide from a wicked delivery by Andy Mitchell on the right.

Ally McCoist opted to make a half time personnel change as he handed Canadian centre half Luca Gasparotto his first competitive appearance for Rangers.

The 18-year-old was a direct replacement for Emilson Cribari but it was in front of him that McCoist made significant changes.

A reshape to the midfield saw Aird move to the right in place of Robbie Crawford, with Crawford moving closer to McCulloch in attack.

That meant Templeton moved to the left flank and it was from there that he delivered the telling ball that broke the deadlock.

His cross from the left was inviting for his captain and McCulloch slammed home from six yards to make it 25 for the season.

He might have added to that tally with twenty minutes remaining when he met another Templeton delivery, but the winger’s cutback was for nothing as McCulloch’s shot was deflected over the bar.

Much of the sting had been taken out of the game and the latter moments allowed the introduction of another Murray Park graduate.

At just 16 Danny Stoney became the latest player to make his competitive debut this season.

However it was another Auchenhowie product who added the finishing touch to the game as Hutton started and ended the move that made it 2-0.

His long ball from his own half found Templeton who hung on to the ball for long enough to allow Hutton to advance and latch on to return pass before slotting home low in to the corner.

Rangers: Alexander; Mitchell, Faure, Cribari (Gasparotto 46), Wallace; Crawford (Naismith 66), Hutton, Black, Aird (Stoney 85); Templeton; McCulloch.

Subs: Smith, Murdoch.

SCORERS: McCulloch (56), Hutton (89)

Clyde: Barclay, Scullion (Lyden 87), McDonald, Gray, Fordyce, Hay, Nicholl, Sweeney, McGachie (Watt 60), McLuskey (Fitzharris 78), McCusker.

Subs: Rajovic, McBeth.

BOOKED: Nicholl, Hay, McCusker, Scullion

REFEREE: Calum Murray

ATTENDANCE: 44,453
 

Images from today's game:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22118387

 

5mins or so of highlights of Sats game.