Rangers face Livingston at Ibrox in the Premier Sports Cup tonight with this tournament representing the seventh chance for Steven Gerrard to secure a cup trophy.
In certain spiritual and mythical circles, the ‘lucky’ number 7 is said to represent perfection and completeness – could that now be the case for the Scottish Premiership champions cup chase?
There is certainly a lot of expectation that previous failings need to be rectified in order to lift silverware at Hampden in the coming months.
Regardless of the historic 55th league championship, delivered in style last season, there is that added demand that Rangers challenge for (and should be winnning) every other cup, at least. That is just part of life at Ibrox.
Gerrard will be more than aware that the 0/6 record is nowhere neat good enough and he will be desperate to break the duck.
In this current season, form has been tepid, a mismash of the underwhelming and the efficient.
That has been reflected in the slow start to the European campaign this time around as well as the latest domestic outing when Rangers frustratingly produced their best 45 minutes of the season as well as an opener against Motherwell, only to retreat to mediocrity and a draw was snatched from the proverbial jaws of victory. Ultimately, it felt like a defeat.
Tonight brings a new challenge and Livingston will be encouraged by their excellent victory of Celtic at home last weekend – they will be no pushovers.
The form table in the cups over Gerrard’s reign does not make pleasant reading, but here it is once again:
18/19 – League Cup – Aberdeen – 0-1 – Semi-Final
18/19 – Scottish Cup – Aberdeen – 0-2 – Quarter Final replay
19/20 – League Cup – Celtic – 0-1 – Final
19/20 – Scottish Cup – Hearts – 1-0 – Quarter Final
20/21 – League Cup – St Mirren – A – 2-1 – Quarter Final
20/21 – St Johnstone – 1-1 (2-4, pens) – Quarter Final
Irony
Must do better is the mantra that everyone is aware of, and that is the aim but conversely, a repeat of last season’s end would suffice
League title ‘at the expense’ of both cups? Of course you would, especially in this pivotal, high stakes season but we all know that football doesn’t work like that.
The Gers have a great chance to break the cup hoodoo and a win over the West Lothian side will book another semi-final date at Hampden. A November slot is in place ahead of the League Cup final at the same venue, one week before Santa arrives.
Christmas cheer, a cup in the bag and a pre-old Firm shot in the arm? That is what ‘real’ Rangers teams are made of – go make it happen lads!