In his early preview of the Premiership clash on Saturday, Derek McInnes reckons that Rangers will not be affected by last weekend’s painful League Cup loss – think again!
The Kilmarnock manager should be in for a surprise with justified stinging criticism still expecting to be ringing in the ears of certain Rangers players. Plenty of that has came from the supporters on the outside and Michael Beale will surely have told a few home truths to his squad in recent days.
Following the Old Firm no-show, they should be taking to the Ibrox pitch on Saturday looking to prove a point and start off a new winning run in a convincing manner.
The fans, more than ever, won’t be shy to let their feelings be known if it is another stuffy display that is offered up.
McInnes was respectful in his response, stating that Rangers would be expected to pick up as normal, especially at home but he didn’t forsee any particular impact or negative effect after losing to Celtic:
“I wouldn’t have thought so. It is a different competition, the nature of the club is they have to go again and that’s the way it is.”
“There will be disappointment but Rangers have been pretty consistent, the statistics show that.”
“Since Michael has come in they have had some good results and I expect Rangers to ask the questions of us, being at home, but I expect us to have the answers and hopefully deal with what’s coming and hopefully be good enough, use the experience we have had.”
“We should expect Rangers to come at us, we should expect Rangers to be good but we also have to expect that from ourselves. I want Rangers to come off the pitch having had a really tough afternoon.”
Return the serve
Sitting in 11th place in the Premiership table with just four points (one wins, one draw, three defeats) from their last five league games, Killie are hardly in a position of strength.
Two weeks ago, they produced a boost in the form of their narrow win over Dundee United in the Scottish Cup, setting up a last-eight tie with Inverness. With one eye on Hampden again this season, that may yet prove to be an inspiration for the Rugby Park side to steer themselves away from relegation trouble but there is no evidence of such a feat up to now.
They are in a dogfight for a reason with frailties that must be exploited. If McInnes wants his team to give Rangers a hard shift, he should be ready to receive that back, and more.