Rangers will face St Johnstone in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup after the draw was made on Monday evening.
It is a far from exciting or unknown fixture, nor does it provide a break from the monotony of playing the same teams over and over, quite the opposite.
Speaking of difference, when Michael Beale takes his team to Perth he will need to find a much different outcome than the recent reverse against the same opposition which proved to be one of the closing instalments of the reign of Gio van Bronckhorst.
The Scottish Cup defence will take on added significance for Beale given that he assumes the mantle of defending champion as well as wanting to go one better than during the Gerrard era. During his time as first team coach, Rangers could only muster two quarter-finals and one semi-final appearance, whilst the League Cup did not return a much better yield with only one losing final appearance in addition to a quarter final and another semi final display.
The cups were a source of major frustration over that period and Beale has already voiced his displeasure at not winning more, in conversation with Darrell Currie of BT Sport:
“I’m still disappointed we didn’t win more. I mean we went the whole season unbeaten and I remember the day we won it, going around angry. I think back now and think: ‘just have a beer Mick, enjoy it,’ but I was angry we hadn’t won more.”
“Fifty six games and to lose three and only two of them in open play, including European games -to come up with one trophy was difficult to take.”
The fourth round draw will take place over the weekend of Saturday 21st January.