Rangers Football Club 0 Posted June 17, 2010 Share Posted June 17, 2010 (edited) CHAMPIONS unfurl flag against Ayrshiremen on August 14 More... RANGERS will kick off the defence of their SPL title at home to Kilmarnock when the new league season gets underway on Saturday August 14. It will be the first time since the 2003/04 campaign that the two teams meet on the opening day. Back then, Gers kicked off with a resounding 4-0 home win as champions and they'll be looking for a similar result this time around. As was the case last term, Walter Smith's side will play its second game through in Edinburgh - but this time it will be Hibernian they visit rather than Hearts. That game takes place at the new-look Easter Road on August 21, with a home clash with Derek McInnes' St Johnstone side coming a week later on August 28. Following the early season international break, Rangers will then travel to Hamilton (September 11), host Dundee United (September 18) and visit Aberdeen (September 25). It's a tough start for Smith's men, with the first Old Firm derby of the season then coming nine games in at Parkhead on October 23. Rangers will play newly-promoted Inverness for the first time since they returned to the top flight the following weekend on October 30. And they'll visit the Highlands for the return game on December 11, with the last match prior to the split being against Killie at home once again on April 16. On Boxing Day, Rangers will make the short journey to Lanarkshire to play Motherwell, a venue where they lost on the same date back in 2002. After the Ibrox team's six Champions League matches, they will be away in five of them to Hearts, Celtic, St Mirren, Dundee United and Inverness. Their only home date comes after matchday one when they face the Arabs on September 18. For full fixture information, visit our fixtures page after 10am to find out exactly where and when Gers will be playing in the SPL over the coming months. Full list here: http://www.scotprem.com/content/ Edited June 17, 2010 by Frankie 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
metlika 0 Posted June 17, 2010 Share Posted June 17, 2010 Pleased with that. Even though I heard all these rumours of us playing Hibs. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,182 Posted June 17, 2010 Share Posted June 17, 2010 Seems a reasonable start to me... Bring it on! 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig 5,199 Posted June 17, 2010 Share Posted June 17, 2010 And apparently immediately subsequent to 5 of our 6 CL games we are away from home. How very convenient to have us playing away from home right after what will undoubtedly be very tough, demanding fixtures. 5 ouf ot 6 ? Unreasonable IMO. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
calscot 0 Posted June 17, 2010 Share Posted June 17, 2010 Doubt they even considered it... 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
way2go 0 Posted June 17, 2010 Share Posted June 17, 2010 Hoping for a nice sunny day with a slight breeze to allow OUR flag to flutter and sadden the eyes of the watching scum. Cough cough, anyway Killie should be a good game to kick off our season 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gers4Life 0 Posted June 17, 2010 Share Posted June 17, 2010 And apparently immediately subsequent to 5 of our 6 CL games we are away from home. How very convenient to have us playing away from home right after what will undoubtedly be very tough, demanding fixtures. 5 ouf ot 6 ? Unreasonable IMO. Are the SFA/SPL trying to screw us over and the season hasn't even started yet :box: 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig 5,199 Posted June 17, 2010 Share Posted June 17, 2010 Doubt they even considered it... If you read how they analysed how it all panned out then they SHOULD have. There were plenty of criteria set for it. Some criteria : No 3 home games consecutively No 3 away games consecutively If at home on Boxing Day then you would be away on New Year's Day Doesnt seem unreasonable to ensure that there is some element of making sure it is even-handed for the European participants. I wonder how many games prior to the CL matches we are at home - will it be 5 ? I doubt it. I should look but cant be bothered. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Zicano Posted June 17, 2010 Share Posted June 17, 2010 Only 1 home game after our Champions league games is pretty harsh, especially when we know we will have such a small squad! Though, we do need to give the rest a wee bit of a chance this year 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,442 Posted June 17, 2010 Share Posted June 17, 2010 THE Scottish Premier League fixture list for the new season was announced yesterday, and there was almost immediate disquiet from one club at least. Reigning champions Rangers will face away matches after five of their six Champions League fixtures, something which was noted on the club's official website yesterday morning. After five of the Ibrox side's six Champions League group games they have been handed away SPL fixtures – against Hearts, Celtic, St Mirren, Dundee United and Inverness Caledonian Thistle. The only home date comes after Champions League matchday one on 18 September, when Walter Smith's side entertain Dundee United. Rangers will unfurl the title flag before a home match with Kilmarnock on the weekend of 14 August, while new Celtic manager Neil Lennon kicks off with an awkward trip to newly promoted Inverness. Hibernian travel to face Motherwell, with whom they shared 12 goals in the penultimate fixture of last season. Hearts will meet St Johnstone on the opening weekend, while Dundee United, who finished third last season, are away at St Mirren. Aberdeen host Hamilton Accies at Pittodrie. Despite the stated issue with Rangers' post-Champions League schedule, SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster described the clubs as being "broadly happy" with the fixture list. The New Year derby matches have been retained. Rangers face Celtic on New Year's day for the first time since 1994. This season's New Year Old Firm clash falls the day before the 40th anniversary of the Ibrox disaster, To accommodate the wishes of live television, the match could yet be switched to this poignant anniversary date. Hearts and Hibs are scheduled to face up to each other in the Edinburgh derby on 1 January as well, with Jim Jefferies' side the hosts. Again this is subject to change due to television. The SPL faced several complaints in April from clubs unhappy with its post-split fixtures. The system of splitting the league into two will remain in place for this season at least. "I think people are broadly happy with the fixtures and that's to be expected, frankly, because clubs have had a lot of input into what they want to see and what they don't want to see," said Doncaster. "We've been able to reflect that with the help of our partners, Optimal Planning Solutions, who have helped us put the fixtures together. Clubs have asked for certain requirements to be met and we've been able to meet them." http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/Rangers-voice-disquiet--over.6370159.jp 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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