Jump to content

 

 

Rangers Football Club

  • Posts

    993
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by Rangers Football Club

  1. ANDY LITTLE is set to lead the line for Rangers against Queenâ??s Park on Saturday as Ally McCoist is missing four recognised strikers. Little has been utilised on the right side for most of this season but has still produced 16 goals and has a preference to play as the main striker. Now he looks like getting his wish when Queenâ??s Park visit Ibrox as Lee McCulloch, Fran Sandaza and Kevin Kyle are all injured while Kal Naismith starts a two-match ban after being sent off at Tannadice last weekend. McCulloch is still troubled by an ankle problem and has not played since the Elgin game on January 5 while Kyle also has an ankle problem and Sandaza has a thigh problem. Boss Ally McCoist told RangersTV: â??We have a real headache for this weekendâ??s Queenâ??s Park as we donâ??t have a centre forward as such. â??Sandaza, McCulloch and Kyle are all out injured and obviously Naismith â?? who would have given himself a real opportunity â?? is suspended for two games. â??So we are short in a few positions right now but especially up front. â??I would say Sandaza is extremely doubtful as is McCulloch because he is still in pain and he hasnâ??t trained and hasnâ??t played for a few weeks now. â??We also have a couple of young players out on loan right now with Kane Hemmings at Cowdenbeath and Callum Gallagher at Alloa. â??So the obvious thing would be to move Andy Little into that position and thatâ??s something we will look at.â? WATCH THE MANAGERâ??S INTERVIEW NOW ON RANGERSTV * Read more on the official site...
  2. YOUNG defender Kyle McAusland has become the latest Auchenhowie starlet to extend his stay with the Light Blues. The 20-year-old has put pen to paper on a deal which will keep him with the club until the summer of 2015. A former captain of Billy Kirkwood's under-19 side, McAusland is currently on loan with home town club Ayr United. McAusland can play as a central defender or at right full back and has managed 17 matches, and three goals, during his spell in Ayrshire. The agreement with another product of the club's academy follows on from new deals this season for Lewis Macleod, Barrie McKay and Robbie Crawford. Read more on the official site...
  3. TOMMY WILSON is pleased Rangers have given themselves their best chance possible of winning the SFL Reserve League after a 4-0 win over Queen of the South today. Barrie McKayâ??s double, along with goals from Kal Naismith and Robbie Crawford, were enough to give the Light Blues the points at alternative venue Broadwood Stadium. As a result, Gers are back on top of the table and have just one game to play with Queenâ??s Park, a match that now takes place at Lesser Hampden on Monday, February 4 at 7.30pm. Long-time leaders Morton remain in the driving seat though as the championship edges towards a conclusion at last. They meet bottom side Partick Thistle at Cappielow tonight and if they win that fixture theyâ??ll go a point above the Ibrox team having played the same number of times. Wilson knows it still remains to be seen if his young side can pull off an unlikely success after looking like they had blown their chance at one stage. But he is keen for them to pull out one more good showing next month after being impressed by the way his kids again performed. Wilson said: â??We were a bit rusty at the start and we didnâ??t play the way we can or the way we had set up to play. â??We made one or two changes though and got our passing game going. After that we were well in the game. The goals we scored were excellent and they were well made.* â??I thought the final score was a bit hard on Queen of the South because for long spells it was 1-0 and it was only towards the end we got further in front. â??The biggest thing for us was to get the win. Things are still in Mortonâ??s hands but weâ??re two points ahead of them for the moment. Theyâ??ve still got to play their games and itâ??s not easy. â??I said to the boys today that I donâ??t normally speak about the league situation but now theyâ??re so close to the end, theyâ??d like to win the competition. â??They want to win games, perform well and be as high up the league as they can. Theyâ??ve done that so far and Iâ??m delighted with that.â? For the sixth time this term, the reserves scored at least four times and this was their sixth win in succession. They are in good form at present and watching manager Ally McCoist, along with Kenny McDowall, Ian Durrant and Jim Stewart, will have taken note of that. The likes of Fraser Aird, McKay and Naismith all shone at various points, while Charlie Telfer was a standout when he came on as a substitute for the final half hour. It was scorer Crawford who caught Wilsonâ??s eye more, with the midfielder industrious in the engine room. The coach added: â??Iâ??m not normally one for picking players out but I thought Robbie was excellent throughout the whole match. â??Even when we werenâ??t doing as well, he dug in and without Kyle Hutton or big Kamil Wiktorski in the midfield he was having to add a bit to his game.â? Read more on the official site...
  4. RANGERS kept their hopes of SFL Reserve League glory alive with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Queen of the South at Broadwood. The Light Blues began the match with plenty of attacking intent and Kal Naismith and Jamie Burrows both came close to opening the scoring. But Gers struggled to create more chances in the early stages as Queens gained a foothold and the match became more scrappy. The Doonhamers were unlucky not to take the lead as a thumping 25-yard drive from ex-Aberdeen star Michael Paton cannoned off Scott Gallacherâ??s left-hand post. Rangers hit back and took the lead after 28 minutes when Burrows' missed header fell at the feet of Barrie McKay, who drove a shot past the helpless Jim Atkinson in the Queenâ??s goal. The young winger showed good composure and his finish was one of quality well beyond his 18 years. Naismith was unlucky to find himself booked for diving after 35 minutes after good work from McKay on the left-hand side found the tall striker in the penalty area and he appeared to be caught just as he was about to strike the ball. Rangers went forward immediately after the restart and were rewarded with a free kick on the edge of the penalty area which McKay sent just wide of the left-hand post. Tommy Wilson made two substitutions after an hour with Tom Walsh and Charlie Telfer replacing Burrows and Andy Murdoch and the changes allowed the away team to press home their superiority. Naismith put Rangers two goals to the good with 15 minutes remaining with an excellent finish past the despairing Atkinson. The goal came out of nothing but was a deserved one for a man who worked hard all afternoon. Fraser Aird was another whose performance merited a goal and that almost came soon after as his looping drive went just over the bar. The young Canadian is sure to have impressed onlooking manager Ally McCoist with his tireless work all over the park. McKay put Rangers three up with only a few minutes remaining when some good work down the left from Telfer found the unmarked winger three yards out and he made no mistake with his finish. Robbie Crawford then made it four just seconds later as he displayed some neat footwork inside the area and tucked in a shot off the left-hand post. Rangers' title rivals Morton take on Partick Thistle at Cappielow tonight but for now the Ibrox side is two points clear at the top with one game to go having played once more. RANGERS: Gallacher; Argyriou, Faure, Urquhart, Mitchell; McKay, Crawford, Murdoch (Telfer 60), Aird; Burrows (Walsh 60), Naismith. Read more on the official site...
  5. TOMMY WILSON has paid tribute to his young players for using the SFL Reserve League as a springboard to bigger things as they get set for a final flourish in the competition. Rangers lie second in the table at present and will play Queen of the South in their penultimate game at Broadwood Stadium tomorrow afternoon (1pm). They then round off their campaign with a trip across Glasgow to play Queenâ??s Park at Lesser Hampden on February 11 at 7.30pm. The Light Blues currently lie second in the standings, a point behind Morton, with each side still having two games to complete. To win the competition, Gers simply need to win both of their matches and hope the Greenock side slips up in one of its last fixtures. For the swifts to be up at the top end of the table challenging at all is something Wilson takes satisfaction from after the turbulent summer at the club. But after coming through that and registering some good results, he wants his men to give themselves their best chance of being successful. Wilson said: â??For us, itâ??s a chance to become the first Rangers team to win a trophy after the changeover in the summer. â??Weâ??ve looked at each game so far and taken them one at a time as theyâ??ve come. Weâ??ve looked for performances from the players and weâ??ve mainly got them. â??Iâ??ve always felt that if you play well the results will follow and that has proved to be the case because weâ??re up at the top end of the league. â??Weâ??ve always taken these games seriously. We know that whether itâ??s a league or not, thereâ??s not really such a thing as a friendly at Rangers. â??Boys such as Kal Naismith, Fraser Aird, Barrie McKay, Robbie Crawford and Chris Hegarty have used the competition to their advantage. â??They found themselves on the fringes of the first team and have been able to demonstrate their willingness to progress in our reserve fixtures. That has been excellent for us. â??The lads have shown good temperament when they have gone into the first team and they got hardened to that in games such as these ones. â??The players have had nothing but compliments for how theyâ??ve done so far and for us to be up there challenging is great. â??When we started out in the Reserve League, we didnâ??t quite know what to expect but it has been really worthwhile for us and it would be great to finish off by winning it now.â? Read more on the official site...
  6. RANGERSâ?? game with Queen of the South in the SFL Reserve League tomorrow is back on, with the match now taking place at Broadwood Stadium. The Doonhamers' home ground at Palmerston Park is unplayable with continued cold weather over the weekend meaning conditions there are too dangerous. Initially it was thought the second-string match between the Dumfries outfit and Gers, scheduled at first for tomorrow evening, wouldn't take place and it was postponed this morning. Now, however, the clubs have managed to arrange for the fixture to take place at Clyde's home in Cumbernauld instead following discussions and it will be played tomorrow afternoon at 1pm. The Ibrox team has just two fixtures left to fulfil in the competition, both of which have spilled over from the planned conclusion of the league last month. The other match is against Queenâ??s Park and as yet no date for that meeting at Lesser Hampden has been set. The Light Blues currently lie second in the standings, a point behind leaders Morton with both sides having played 11 times. Tommy Wilsonâ??s men could win the championship if results go their way and theyâ??ll finish no worse than fifth in the 13-team table. Tomorrow's opponents Queens lie second-bottom ahead of last-placed Partick Thistle on goal difference but have only played nine times so far, less than anyone else. Read more on the official site...
  7. JIM SINCLAIR is confident that there is another batch of talented Rangers players developing behind the current crop of youngsters in the first team. The club's Director of Youth Development has been pleased by the impact of those who have already made the grade. However he is eager to discuss the depth of the pool of talent as he eyes the next step on the production line from his department. He said: â??Behind those that have pushed through we have the likes of Tom Walsh who has already been on for a small number of minutes and the manager has his eye on him. â??We also have Charlie Telfer, Darren Ramsay, Ryan Sinnamon, Greg Pascazio, Daniel Stoney and Luca Gasparotto who we have high hopes for. â??So we like to think we are fairly well served for young players should the manager feel the need to call upon them. â??I think the complaint over the years has been that Rangers have always had the capacity to buy top international players and as a consequence of that Iâ??m sure many young players, who perhaps might have had their opportunity at another club, weren't given that. â??That is clearly not the case now and whilst the focus is on the youth department and we welcome that and we understand the responsibilities we have, hopefully we can continue to produce players that can take the club forward.â? Lewis Macleod has played in 28 of Rangersâ?? 30 competitive matches this season at first-team level and his goal against Elgin City earlier this month, his third of the campaign, highlighted his growing confidence and undoubted potential. The 18-year-oldâ??s energetic performances in the middle of the park have thrilled Sinclair. He said: â??Iâ??ve been absolutely delighted with Lewis in particular but also with Barrie McKay, Fraser Aird and the others. â??Even if you look slightly further back at Ross Perry and Kyle Hutton they are almost seasoned campaigners now. â??Itâ??s all positive but going back to Lewis he has hardly missed a beat in the games I have seen and dare I say heâ??s been one of our better players. So itâ??s great news.â? Read more on the official site...
  8. RANGERS have today offered an alternative reconstruction plan for Scottish football and insist that any change must be delayed until the start of the 2014/15 season. Chief Executive Charles Green says most fans do not want the 12-12-18 model which has been proposed and he is a backing a 14-14-14 set-up. He said in a statement: "The recent widespread debate on the reconstruction of Scottish football has been welcome and I am glad that Ally McCoist and myself have contributed and helped stimulate discussion rather than watch everyone sleepwalk into a solution that very few, if any, football fans across Scotland want. *â??I am fully aware that the interests of fans and the duties of directors of football clubs, who have to balance books, do not always align. However, it seems absurd that, when most fans are so implacably opposed to the 12-12-18 model, their views are being cast aside.* "To be absolutely clear, it would have been easy for me, on behalf of Rangers, to support this model. There is no model on the table that offers our club a potentially quicker route back to the highest echelons of Scottish football.* â??However, I believe that while all clubs have to look out for their own interests, the greater good of Scottish football cannot be ignored. * *"I would like to set out what Rangers believes to be a workable way forward that may appeal to fans of all clubs. *"First, we think any reconstruction should be implemented not next season but the following season so that every club knows what it is playing for at the start of the season. *"Secondly, we believe that further consideration should be given to a 14-14-14 model, which can be constructed in a way that ensures there is no loss of games but will deliver greater competition through the leagues, particularly with the implementation of play-offs.* â??I cannot understand why this model has been so readily discounted when fans are clearly looking for larger leagues. I know there are various opinions regarding splits in such leagues but they cannot be any more complicated than what is now being proposed. "Finally, I am fully aware of the unique challenges a club the size of Rangers face in Scotland. That is why we must explore all options for the long-term, including playing out-with Scotland.* â??Of course, that is not something anyone is expecting could happen tomorrow but, over time, things are likely to change in football and we must be ready for such potential outcomes. *"In the meantime, we hope that the powers that be in Scottish football pay heed to the views of supporters who are telling them loud and clear to think again." Read more on the official site...
  9. WE might only be 10 days into January but Fraser Aird is already dreaming of playing his part in a title-winning run-in with Rangers from now until May. WE might only be 10 days into January but Fraser Aird is already dreaming of playing his part in a title-winning run-in with Rangers from now until May. 2012 was a turbulent year for the Light Blues but it was also a memorable one for the Murray Park starlet who broke into the first team and famously scored an injury time winner against Queenâ??s Park at Hampden on December 29. It was a moment to savour for the 17-year-old who has now made five starts for his beloved Gers along with a further six substitute appearances. And with his side now 17 points clear at the top of the league he admits he would love nothing more than to get his hands on the Third Division trophy. A lot of hard work still lies ahead but Fraser hopes he can play his part in what would be an historic title success. He said: â??It would be unbelievable. â??Obviously coming into the team this year has been something new for me and weâ??re now going for the championship. â??It would be brilliant if we could win it. It doesnâ??t matter if itâ??s the First, Second, Third (Division) or the SPL itâ??s still another league title so hopefully I can play my part for the rest of the season and that the boys can go on and win the league. â??We are on a good run although we were disappointed after the result in our last game. â??Weâ??ve just got to keep going and not take our foot off the gas. â??Weâ??ve just got to keep winning games as thatâ??s what the Rangers fans want to see us do.â? Fraser has not been involved in recent matches against Annan and Elgin in 2013 but he hopes to feature in forthcoming fixtures. The talented youngster admits he is relishing the challenge of playing in the Third Division and that it it has been part of the learning curve as he adapts to senior football. He added: â??Itâ??s good, its kind of like when the boys go and play some of the Reserve games at some of the smaller stadiums. â??Itâ??s quite weird going there with the first team and the Rangers fans travelling in their thousands. â??Itâ??s a sold out house at every stadium you go to but itâ??s good. â??We played on a couple of smaller pitches last year so you are kind of used to that but itâ??s obviously different playing against older men. â??It also means so much to the fans and you need to get three points wherever you go." * Read more on the official site...
  10. ALLY McCOIST knows Rangers had a lucky escape the last time they faced Berwick and wants to ensure thereâ??s no such drama when the teams meet again this weekend. ALLY McCOIST knows Rangers had a lucky escape the last time they faced Berwick and wants to ensure thereâ??s no such drama when the teams meet again this weekend. The Light Blues led at half-time through Andy Littleâ??s goal at Shielfield Park when the sides played in August. But the hosts levelled through Fraser McLaren and should really have won in the dying seconds when Chris Townsley headed home only to see his goal disallowed. On closer inspection, it seemed harsh on the Borders side that referee Mike Tumilty ruled the effort out and Gers were fortunate to come home with a point. Since then, McCoistâ??s team has also slipped up on its travels having drawn at Annan then lost at Stirling. But it then went on an 11-match winning run in the Third Division which only came to an end last weekend when Elgin were able to tie 1-1 in Glasgow. McCoist feels his players have both adapted to life in the SFL and improved since then and expects them to be victorious when Ian Littleâ??s side comes to Govan two days from now. He said: â??We didnâ??t play at all well at Shielfield Park the last time we were there and we gave a disappointing performance. â??There wasnâ??t an awful lot wrong with the goal they scored at the end of the game and I think we got away with one there. Thereâ??s no doubt about that. â??Iâ??m not sure Iâ??d say I had sympathy for them but Iâ??m sure Berwick will have looked upon themselves as being unlucky not to take the three points that day. â??We have to put that right at the weekend and I think without running the risk of tempting fate, weâ??re sharper now than we were then. â??I firmly believe that if we play the way we can on Saturday we will win the game. Itâ??s a matter of going out there and showing that.â? McCoist feels a number of sides have grown more defensive against Gers in recent weeks after playing more openly in the early part of the season. And he expects Berwick will arrive in Glasgow with a more conservative game plan than the one they had back in August. Rangers havenâ??t always found it easy to break down opponents lately and that has been of concern to the manager. But he still wants his squad to raise its levels after that frustrating stalemate with City on January 5. McCoist added: â??It will be interesting to see how Berwick set themselves up and Iâ??d imagine they will play things a little bit tighter than they did when they were at home. â??With that said, theyâ??ve got some reasonable players with talent and who have a bit of form about them so weâ??ll respect them. â??At the same time, itâ??s about what we do. We have to play better final passes and be more ruthless in front of goal than we have been lately. â??Itâ??s an important game for a lot of the boys because we have to not only get back to winning ways but also play better.â? GET YOUR TICKETS FOR RANGERS v BERWICK NOW BY CLICKING*HERE, CALLING 0871 702 1972 OR VISITING THE RANGERS TICKET CENTRE. SEATS COST FROM £16 FOR ADULTS, £12 FOR CONCESSIONS AND JUST £5 FOR KIDS SO DON'T MISS OUT! Read more on the official site...
  11. ALLY McCOIST admits heâ??s thrilled to have Lewis Macleod back in his Rangers team after being without the youngster for two games recently. The teenager was absent for the meeting with Queenâ??s Park at Hampden and the trip to face Annan Athletic. And although Gers won both games, they were unconvincing in each encounter and missed the drive and energy Macleod brings to the side. Until he missed that trip to the National Stadium, the 18-year-old had been an ever-present for Gers having played in each of their first 26 matches of the season. Macleod has made himself an automatic selection and has weighed in with three goals against Montrose and Elgin. Ahead of this Saturdayâ??s game with Berwick at Ibrox, McCoist knows how vital his presence could be. He said: â??Itâ??s important for us, especially in forward areas where you can see Lewisâ?? speed of play and thought is very dynamic. â??I thought he finished his goal against Elgin extremely well at the weekend and he has become a big player for us. â??He plays with urgency, creates things and indeed scores goals as well which is a massive thing for us.â? GET YOUR TICKETS FOR RANGERS v BERWICK NOW BY CLICKING HERE, CALLING 0871 702 1972 OR VISITING THE RANGERS TICKET CENTRE. SEATS COST FROM £16 FOR ADULTS, £12 FOR CONCESSIONS AND JUST £5 FOR KIDS SO DON'T MISS OUT! Read more on the official site...
  12. RANGERS have made a successful start to their bid to win compensation for the players who walked out on the club last summer. The club is chasing Allan McGregor, Kyle Lafferty, Jamie Ness, Stevie Naismith, Steven Whittaker and Sone Aluko for breaching their contracts. Compensation is also being sought from their clubs â?? Besiktas, Sion, Stoke City, Everton, Norwich City and Hull City. A meeting took place on Monday at Hampden to discuss jurisdiction on the case and Rangers prevailed. Chief Executive Charles Green told RangersTV: â??From our side it went as well as we could have expected. From the other side Iâ??m sure they will be disappointed. â??Clearly they wanted they commission to throw it out and rule that the SFA had no jurisdiction because the whole process of the first meeting was about jurisdiction. â??What we stated at the meeting was that newco wants to continue where oldco was. â??We have this slight anomaly where for a period newco were not members of the SFA from June 14 until being granted membership on August 3. â??It was those technical issues which caused some consternation but I was very encouraged with the meeting. â??It is still my position that these players breached their contracts and we are going to pursue them. â??With newco taking over from oldco â?? and BDO were at the meeting and withdrew from the process â?? is a fundamental part of it. â??Both parties were asked to go away and discuss various issues. We have been given until January 21 by the chair of the commission to come back to him. â??In the absence that the parties canâ??t agree or cannot come up with a view, he will make a judgement. â??Hopefully, though the lawyers, we can come up with an agreement on these issues and at that point then the commission can start taking the thing forward. â??We are quite a way off from the position we want to achieve in terms of gaining compensation. â??What these players and their clubs need to realise is that when we go to the next level this is going to be a number of days â?? not just an afternoon at Hampden â??These players wonâ??t be training or playing, they will sit in Hampden waiting to give evidence or to make statements. â??We are not going to let this drop as I have said since June.â? Rangers settled with Southampton over Steve Davis, Coventry City over John Fleck and Sheffield Wednesday over Rhys McCabe. WATCH CHARLES GREEN NOW ON RANGERSTV Read more on the official site...
  13. ALLY McCOIST believes the exposure Rangers have received in the worldâ??s media is helping him in his bid to attract new players to the club. Journalists from as far afield as North America and Japan have come to Glasgow to report on the rise of the Light Blues after their spell in administration earlier this year. Indeed, the story has captured the imagination of football followers everywhere as one of the biggest average supports in the European game continues to stand by its club. Even with their move into the Third Division of the SFL, Gers remain a massive draw in every respect. That includes in recruitment terms, with McCoist getting positive feedback from several agents whose clients are keen to join his squad. He has revealed his list of potential targets is in excess of the group of nearly 150 players currently attached to SPL clubs who will be out of contract this summer. And even though he is prevented from registering any new faces in his pool until September, that hasnâ??t stopped him from doing plenty of spadework now. Since 2013 began, McCoist has been able to sign players whose deals end in the summer on pre-contract deals. And while he hasnâ??t made any firm agreements yet, he is happy with the direction he is heading in in that respect. McCoist said: â??The list we have is actually bigger than the SPL free agents â?? and thatâ??s just centre forwards! â??Weâ??ve got a massive list of players from all over the world which we are looking over at the moment. â??Obviously weâ??re keeping on top of the SPL players because weâ??d be crazy not to but weâ??re looking far outwith that as well. â??Weâ??re doing our groundwork early and weâ??ve got to do that. We canâ??t register players until September but weâ??ve got to continue to scout. â??Weâ??re looking for players we think can better our team and better the squad and thatâ??s exactly what weâ??re up to. â??Weâ??re making progress there. Iâ??m having regular meetings with Neil Murray and weâ??ve got lots of players weâ??re looking at who are going to be out of contract in the summer. â??Weâ??ve got another meeting this week and thatâ??s something weâ??re keeping on top of so when the opportunity comes, weâ??ll be ready. â??Weâ??re getting a lot of positive feedback from people. After all that has happened at the club, there are good things happening now. â??Weâ??ve had camera crews and journalists here from all over the world and what is happening here has very much become a global story. â??I donâ??t think that has done us any harm in the respect of trying to get players in here because we are very much at the forefront of peopleâ??s news and views. Itâ??s up to us to utilise that. â??That has shown with one or two agents we are just touching base with to keep in touch with their players and there has certainly been a keenness from them to come here.â?* Read more on the official site...
  14. ALLY McCOIST has urged Kane Hemmings to use his loan spell at Cowdenbeath as a platform from which to earn himself a new contract at Rangers. The English striker has joined the Blue Brazil temporarily until the end of month, during which he could play up to four first-team games. His first one on Saturday was a success and although he didnâ??t score, Hemmings did play the full 90 minutes and performed well in a 1-1 draw with First Division leaders Morton. The 20-year-old has endured a torrid time with injuries, requiring three operations on one knee and one on the other. His latest one has kept him out since the summer but he is fully fit again and is a player the coaching staff at Gers rate highly. McCoist is adamant he wouldnâ??t have sent Hemmings out on loan if he wasnâ??t looking at him as being a longer-term option. Instead, he is keen for the former Tamworth youngster to show what he can do so that he can successfully come back into the Light Blues fold. McCoist said: â??I spoke to Colin Cameron and Donald Findlay and we organised for Kane to go there for four games. â??He has had a really tough time with knee injuries and our reserves arenâ??t playing as regularly as weâ??d like. â??Itâ??s an ideal opportunity for his own confidence and self-knowledge in the respect he can see for himself he has overcome his problems there. â??Hopefully heâ??ll do well. I know he did well at the weekend against Morton and he thoroughly enjoyed it. â??We wouldnâ??t be putting Kane out on loan if we werenâ??t thinking of him in the future. The main issue with him at the moment though is he hasnâ??t played a lot of matches. â??We have to get him games of football, itâ??s as simple as that. He has a great opportunity to do that at Cowdenbeath.â? Read more on the official site...
  15. RESERVE coach Tommy Wilson believes three if his players will be knocking on the top team door in the coming weeks. Aussie winger Francesco Stella produced a stylish display as Rangers defeated Partick Thistle 3-0, topped off with a fine goal. Kyle Hutton bossed the midfield with some style while Darren Cole got a full 90 minutes at last after some frustrating injury problems. Wilson said: â??I felt Francesco did well. I have been speaking with him over the course of the weeks that he has been here and I think he got the reward for his work today. â??He kept things simple and it was a great goal he scored. It was a great ball from Fraser Aird, a good first touch and a fantastic finish. â??When he is in that frame of mind he can be a very useful player. â??I donâ??t want him and he doesnâ??t want to be here â?? and I want I mean but that is that he wants to be with the first team. â??Hopefully if he continues to develop then he will get his opportunity but there are a lot of young lads with the same desire. â??It was good to see Darren Cole coming in to the back four and playing for the full 90 minutes as he has had a tough time with injuries. â??Some people forget â?? although we certainly donâ??t â?? that he played in the Champions League at 18. The first team doesnâ??t have too many defenders right now so I think Coley coming back into the fold will be a boost. â??Kyle Hutton is another with Champions League experience and I know he is frustrated at his lack of first team football but he played well today â?? and Ian Durrant was watching - and if he continues to do that it wonâ??t be long before he is back in * Read more on the official site...
  16. RANGERS produced a dominant display in East Kilbride as they comfortably eased to a 3-0 victory over Partick Thistle to maintain some pressure on Reserve League leaders Morton. Goals from Francesco Stella, Stuart Urquhart and Tom Walsh secured a win that might have been more emphatic if Rangers had taken all off their chances and also not come up against a decent keeper in James Wightman. However, it was deeply satisfying win for Tommy Wilson and his young side who featured top team squad men like Kyle Hutton, Fraser Aird, Robbie Crawford and Kal Naismith. Stella was in the mood early in the game showing good pace and ability on the left side producing two good crosses in the first eight minutes but there were no takers. And then in 11 minutes he cut inside and hammered a right foot shot which Thistleâ??s diminutive keeper James Wightman did well to block. Six minutes earlier Kal Naismith was only just wide with a cute flick from six yards after Fraser Aird and Stella had worked a short corner. It was a good positive start from Wilsonâ??s side and they came close again in 14 minutes when Jags defender Aaaron Sekhon inadvertently headed Matt Clarkeâ??s ball into the path of Callum Gallagher who raced on and fired a low shot but again Wightman did well. Naismith thought he should have had a penalty in 16 minutes when Wightman seemed to pull him down but a decision was not given. Then a minute later the Thistle made a good smothering save to deny Stella from close range. Thistle, however, forced their way into the game in 19 minutes when David Wilson broke away after a Rangers corner and set up Christie Elliott who produced a good strike but Scott Gallagher was equal to it, pushing the ball past the right post. It seemed to spark the First Division side to life as Mark McGuigan then had a long-range shot saved and in 24 minutes centre back Liam Lindsay missed with a close range header from Johnny Blackâ??s corner. However, Rangers roared back to life in 28 minutes when they took the lead in a move started and finished by Stella. The Aussie winger worked his way cross-field and then found Aird on the right. He ran into the box and controlled a lovely floated pass from Aird before smashing the ball past Wightman. Kyle Hutton increasingly became the most influential figure on the field with his control in midfield and range of passing. Indeed he came so close to a second Rangers goal in 36 minutes when he worked a great one-two with Naismith but was denied by Wightmanâ??s great save. Gallagher had two decent chances before halt-time. He should have done better with Naismithâ??s cut-back in 37 minutes but shot weakly then pushed a shot wide in 42 minutes. Wilson made a switch at half-time bringing on Darren Ramsey for Aird but Gallagherâ??s misfortune continued. He was played in by Hutton in 61 minutes but the keeper saved his effort and then he fouled Wightman going for the rebound. Gallagherâ??s match was over in 67 minutes when Jamie Burrows replaced him and Rangers remained reasonably comfortable in their lead. Thistle had had a couple of half-chances but the Light Blues were largely in control. They needed a second goal, however, and they got it in 73 minutes though but centre back Stuart Urquhart. The defender had stayed up following a corner and when the ball was well-worked down the left he had the simplest of chances to score at the back post from Robbie Crawfordâ??s low cross. That was probably enough to seal the win but Rangers scored a special third goal through Tom Walsh. The young winger had come on for Naismith and with less than four minutes remaining he produced a lovely chip shot which floated over Wightman and into the net. RANGERS: 1-Gallacher; 2-Cole, 4-Urquhart, 5-Wilson, 3-Clarke; 6-Hutton, 8-Crawford; 7-Aird (12-Ramsay 45), 10-Naismith (14-Walsh 81), 11-Stella; 9-Gallagher (16-Burrows 67) Subs not used: 15-Currie, 17-Telfer. PARTICK THISTLE: 1-Wightman; 2-Wilson, 5-Lindsay, 6-Sekhon, 3-Keenan; 8-Rowson, 4-Halsman, 8-Gallagher; 11-Elliott, 9-McGuigan, 7-Black. Subs: 14-Leyden, 16-McLean, 17-Moffat. Read more on the official site...
  17. RANGERS legend Sandy Jardine has announced today that he is being treated for cancer. Sandy would like to pass on his thanks to everyone who has offered their best wishes and support since he was diagnosed a short time ago. The Club will support Sandy and his family in any way it can throughout his treatment and we ask that the media respect his privacy and indeed the privacy of his family. Sandy is a true Rangers legend in every sense of the word and has the admiration and respect of every one of his colleagues at Ibrox and Murray Park. There is little doubt he will fight this disease in the same way he fought bravely in every match he featured as a player and our thoughts are with him and his family at this difficult time. Sandy commented: â??I would like to thank everyone for their best wishes and kind support. As you can appreciate this is a difficult time for me and my family and I ask that you respect our privacy.â? * Read more on the official site...
  18. WE apologise for the issues that supporters experienced with todayâ??s live stream on RangersTV. This was as a result of a server issue which we are currently investigating in full. The club would like to apologise to those fans who were affected by the problem and more information will follow as soon as we have completed investigations. Those supporters who have already contacted the club will receive a response to their query when information becomes available. Read more on the official site...
  19. KAL NAISMITH believes reserve football this season has moved him a step closer to being ready for Ally McCoistâ??s first team. KAL NAISMITH believes reserve football this season has moved him a step closer to being ready for Ally McCoistâ??s first team. The young forward is still looking for his first start for the Light Bluesâ?? top team but has impressed in recent substitute appearances. He fired a fine double for the Reserves against Stenhousemuir on Tuesday night and feels the regular action against senior players is aiding his development. Naismith said: â??Iâ??ve scored a few goals and itâ??s really helped me to get games regularly and to really work on my fitness in the games.* â??The first team training is good but with the schedule itâ??s hard to do that extra running and you really only get that fitness from playing games. â??The teams we face vary depending on what the oppositionâ??s first team is doing so sometimes itâ??s a young team and other times the senior guys make it a real challenge.â? Ally McCoist had some words of encouragement for Naismith on the back of his performance against Peterhead and that has boosted the 20-year-oldâ??s hopes of breaking more regularly in to McCoistâ??s plans. He added: â??It gives me confidence to hear that and I know that any time I do get a chance I just need to take it.* â??Sometimes Iâ??m quite hard on myself and I thought I should maybe have had a goal or two on Saturday and I maybe need that just to kick on. â??I know the team is playing well though and winning so I need to be patient. I got the goals in the reserves so Iâ??m feeling good and Iâ??ll be ready when the chance comes.â? Naismith certainly didnâ??t waste any time in taking his chance on Tuesday night when he rifled in the opener with just 10 seconds on the clock at Auchenhowie. He said: â??It must be one of the quickest weâ??ve got this season and definitely one of the fastest goals Iâ??ve ever scored. â??Sometimes when you get a goal that early you maybe donâ??t stick to the game plan quite so well and can get a bit complacent. â??It took us a wee while to get back in to the game but then we really should have had more goals but they were a young team and they gave us a good game.â? Read more on the official site...
  20. TOMMY WILSON believes there is a lesson to be learned from Kal Naismith after the young forward staked another claim for a first team spot. Naismith bagged a brace as Wilsonâ??s reserve side won 5-1 against Stenhousemuir last night and the reserve coach sees big strides in the 20-year-oldâ??s game. The forward has moved closer to Ally McCoistâ??s first team with a positive display as a substitute at the weekend that drew praise from the manager. And Wilson sees the progress in Naismithâ??s performances in recent months and hopes new recruit Francesco Stella can learn from that example. He said: â??I thought Kalâ??s two goals were outstanding. Iâ??ve known him for a long time and seen him right through all the age group teams. â??When he keeps the game simple, what an asset he is to the team. Last week he was a great foil for Kevin Kyle and this week he turned the possession that he had in to goals. â??I said the same to Francesco Stella. Itâ??s a heavy jersey, the Rangers shirt and it will take him time to adjust to that because he has definitely got ability. â??To be fair to Francesco, and Iâ??ve spoken to him a few times, heâ??s desperate to get in the first team and I think he feels if he can score a World Cup goal that will force his way in. â??Iâ??ve been saying to him to learn from Kalâ??s example where he has gone the opposite way and simplified his game and that has led to first team appearances.â? Read more on the official site...
  21. RANGERS have been rocked by another major injury blow with the news that Emilson Cribari is facing up to a month out of action. The Brazilian defender, who missed last weekendâ??s win over Peterhead, has a calf muscle tear. Itâ??s another big defensive problem for Ally McCoist who already has Seb Faure missing for five weeks after hernia surgery and is set to lose Ross Perry for even longer for the same procedure. The boss told RangersTV: â??Unfortunately itâ??s not great. Emilson has a first degree tear in his lower calf just above the Achilles and it looks like he will be out longer term too. â??It looks as though Ross has a hernia problem which will need operated on and that is going to be six or seven weeks sadly. â??So it looks as though we will be without these two lads for a number of weeks now. â??Sebastien will also be five weeks minimum so thatâ??s another problem. â??However, I felt Chris Hegarty and Lee McCulloch did well at the heart of the defence last Saturday.â? WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH THE MANAGER NOW ON RANGERSTV Read more on the official site...
  22. RANGERS reserves eased to a 5-1 win over Stenhousemuir at Auchenhowie tonight as they continued their good form in the league campaign. Doubles from Kal Naismith and Calum Gallagher and a strike from Tom Walsh ensured the home side secured three points. Naismith got the home side off to a flying start when he opened the scoring with barely seconds on the clock. He found himself in acres of space on the edge of the area and rifled a fine effort high in to the top corner. The visitors almost hit back instantly when the crossbar came to Blair Currieâ??s rescue after a looping header had the keeper beaten. That was the best Stenny could muster in the opening half hour and Rangers might have been further ahead but for some poor decision making in the final third. Luck played its part too with Darren Ramsay unfortunate with the bounce when Naismith headed down Matty Clarkeâ??s cross from the left. Francesco Stella then almost added to the scoring twice, with two decent runs that were thwarted by the keeper and a wayward finish that sailed over the bar. Naismith showed more composure just before the half hour mark when he steered a fine left footed effort just inside the post low to the keeperâ??s right. The two goal lead didnâ??t last however and Stuart Love pegged the home side back when he pounced on some indecisive defending to fire home from inside the Rangers area. Stella had the opportunity to restore the lead five minutes later as he was sent clear, but his poked effort rolled wide of the upright. The Australian was involved in the build-up to the third however as he released Clarke on the left and the fullback picked out Gallagher in the middle for a simple finish to a lovely move. A half time pep talk for the visitors saw them emerge a little more energetically and with a spate of changes for the home side Stenny enjoyed a spell of relative comfort. However it was Dean Shaw in the visitorsâ?? goal that made the biggest impression as a string of fine saves ensured the score was kept down until late in the game. He denied Tom Walsh and substitute Jamie Burrows when both players might have felt they should have found the net from close range. So Shaw would have been disappointed with Walshâ??s strike that did find the back of the net with just five minutes remaining. The midfielderâ??s effort was well struck but the keeper might have held it in different weather conditions rather than allow it to slip through his grasp and roll in to make it 4-1. Gallagher then added a fifth in injury time as he headed home from Stuart Urquhartâ??s cross to give the scoreline a look that better reflected the Light Bluesâ?? domination of possession. Read more on the official site...
  23. RANGERS will make a further assessment of Andy Littleâ??s foot before determining whether he requires more time on the sidelines to get over the injury. The striker recently spent a month out of the team with a hairline fracture which came to light when he was on international duty. Although he returned to action against Queenâ??s Park on October 20, he took a knock in the same area during the League Cup defeat to Inverness at the end of last month. While Little was able to complete the 90 minutes against Alloa three days later, he had to be substituted in the second half of yesterdayâ??s game against Peterhead. Having been replaced by Kal Naismith during the 2-0 Third Division victory, he headed straight up the tunnel with club doctor Paul Jackson. Little was consequently withdrawn from Northern Irelandâ??s squad for their midweek World Cup qualifier with Azerbaijan last night. He will now spend this week getting treatment at Murray Park as Gersâ?? medical staff come to a conclusion on exactly what course of action is required. It remains to be seen if the 23-year-old will be in right condition to take on East Stirlingshire this coming Saturday at Ochilview. But if it turns out he is unable to feature, that will make an already troublesome injury situation even more complicated for manager Ally McCoist. Forwards Kevin Kyle, Francisco Sandaza, David Templeton and Kane Hemmings all sat out yesterdayâ??s game at Ibrox. And with Emilson Cribari and Ross Perry both injured too, captain Lee McCulloch had to drop from attack and help out in central defence next to Chris Hegarty. Options at the back are already limited given reserves Luca Gasparotto and Darren Cole were also ruled out this weekend due to fitness problems of their own. That means McCulloch may have to continue playing there for the foreseeable future, thus weakening the front line further if Little does have to spend more time in the treatment room. Read more on the official site...
  24. LEWIS MacLEOD was simply pleased to win as injury-ravaged Rangers overcame Peterhead to stay two points clear at the top of the Third Division. The Light Blues knew they would be without Kevin Kyle, Seb Faure, Fran Sandaza, David Templeton and Kane Hemmings going into the weekend. And when Emilson Cribari and Ross Perry were both ruled out this morning, they had to take on a makeshift look in defence as Lee McCulloch dropped into the back line. With 16 goals before today to his credit, that took away a little of the attacking threat Gers might otherwise have had. Nevertheless, the 54-times Scottish champions were dominant and were rewarded for their superior possession and chances with a good 2-0 win. Macleod was adamant getting three points was more important than anything else as he looked back on a workmanlike but unspectacular performance. He said: â??The main thing for us today was to go out and get the win and we did well to get a 2-0 victory. â??Weâ??d have liked to have won by a little bit more but they kept it quite tight in the middle and it was hard to play through them. â??We knew it was always going to be a tough game but we have found out more about teams as we have gone along. â??Now that weâ??re into the second round of Third Division fixtures, we know a lot more about what to expect going into matches. â??Weâ??ve had a few dodgy games away from home including when we played Peterhead before but at Ibrox, we feel more comfortable and we showed that today.â? McCulloch got his 17th of the season and Lee Wallace struck after half-time to make sure of a comfortable success. And although there were few standouts, Macleod took time to pay tribute to the men who made a difference. Referring to McCulloch, he added: â??I think he was still looking for a goal today as well because he had moved to the back and he played really well. â??Lee Wallace did a good job too. He has been a standout performer for us all season and he showed that again here as he got the man of the match award.â? * Read more on the official site...
  25. IF you are free tomorrow between the hours of 10am and 5pm and then again from 5pm till 8.30pm why not come along to Ibrox and help place cards on seats for what should be an outstanding display prior to kick off at the Peterhead game on Saturday. If you are available please report to the Argyle House Reception and ask for Jim Hannah, it may take 5-10 mins but someone will come down and take you into the stands to allow you to help place the cards on seats. The display will consist of large poppies in the Govan Stand Rear and Govan Stand Front, with Union Flag in the Copland Stand and a Union Flag in the Broomloan Stand, all volunteers welcome. Read more on the official site...
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.