Rangers take on 2nd place Hearts on Saturday in the SPL match of the week.
I think everyone would conceed that the title is beyond Rangers this season but second place isn’t and if we can beat Hearts today then we could start making up some ground and push for that Champions League place.
The Champions League has been brilliant this season and it continues in February with Rangers drawn against Spanish outfit Villarreal. Whatever happens in that game though, Rangers want to back amongst the cream of Europe next season and to do that they need to pick up their league form ASAP.
Hearts are very much still in the title hunt but defeat here could be costly for them so in that respect Rangers winning today could be a big help to Celtic but we don’t need to worry about that, we should only be worrying about ourselves.
This is the second meeting between the two sides this season, the first one at Tynecastle went the way of the Edinburgh side as they won 1-0.
A lot has changed since then and Hearts are under new management. Out has went George Burley and in has came Graham Rix. Although the form hasn’t been great since his arrival, they have still managed to remain unbeaten. They have won 1 and drawn 3 under his management.
Hearts last victory at Ibrox came on May 12th 2004, that game ended 1-0.
Today’s match odds
Rangers 8/11
Draw 11/5
Hearts 10/3
Vital Quotes:
Rangers Fernando Ricksen on injury: ‘I’ve been playing for five months with a torn stomach muscle. There have been injections and you can’t keep going like that.’
Hearts skipper Steven Pressley on form: ‘We are only human at times and there have been big demands put on us.’
Rangers Team News:
Rangers were rocked this week with the news that key player Fernando Ricksen will be out for a month with a stomach muscle injury.
This isn’t helped by the news that Alan Hutton is also doubtful and our options at right back could be limited.
Dado Prso should still be out due to his hamstring injury but Nacho Novo could be in contention for a starting place after coming off the bench v Kilmarnock last week.
Gavin Rae is nearing fitness but won’t be ready for this one.
Olivier Bernard and Julien Rodriguez are still out.
Player to watch: Nacho Novo
The wee man should certainly play some part in the game and it will be good to see him back in action at Ibrox. How we could do with his goal scoring touch back as well.
Hearts Team News:
Hearts full-back Takis Fyssas will be absent on Paternity leave as his wife is about to give birth.
Midfielder Julien Brellier returns and strikers Edgaras Jankauskas and Roman Bednar are expected to be fit enough to start at Ibrox.
Player to watch: Rudi Skacel
Rudi has been in sensational form this season and has scored loads of goals. Rangers will need to watch him closely.
Match Facts & Stats
Gers record v Hearts at home P139 W95 D26 L18 F294 A145
Previous meetings this season Hearts 1 Rangers 0, Sep 24th
Ref Watch:
Michael McCurry.
Match Prediction:
Rangers seem to be turning the corner. I’ll go for 3-1 to the Teddy Bears.
Next Fixtures:
Mon 26 Dec 2005 Dunfermline (a)
Sat 31 Dec 2005 Dundee Utd (h)
Sat 7 Jan 2006 Peterhead (h) Sco Cup
Sun 15 Jan 2006 Motherwell (a)
Sat 21 Jan 2006 Livingston (h)