Rangers vs Alloa

[Rousseau 9,486]

MARK WARBURTON has made three changes for his side to take on Alloa in the final home match of the season this afternoon.

 

From the side which lost 3-2 to Hibernian on Wednesday, in come Gedion Zelalem, Nicky Clark and Billy King.

 

They play in place of Kenny Miller, Michael O’Halloran and Dominic Ball.

 

That means it’s the familiar back five of Wes Foderingham in goals, James Tavernier, Rob Kiernan, Danny Wilson and Captain Lee Wallace.

 

In midfield, Andy Halliday will sit with Jason Holt and Gedion Zelalem in front of him, while up front, Barrie McKay and Billy King play either side of Nicky Clark.

 

On the bench, Cammy Bell returns having been missing for Wednesday’s game due to inflammation in his knee, and yet again there is a place for youngster Liam Burt.

 

The game promises to be a special occasion with more than 50,000 packed into Ibrox this afternoon to see Lee Wallace lift the Championship title after the final whistle.

 

RANGERS: Foderingham; Tavernier, Kiernan, Wilson, Wallace; Halliday, Holt, Zelalem; McKay, Clark, King.

 

SUBS: Bell, Ball, Law, Shiels, Miller, O’Halloran, Burt.

 

http://rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/three-changes-gers-2/

[Rousseau 9,486]

FAST FACTS:

 

Rangers’ 5-1 victory at Recreation Park in August was their biggest ever league victory over Alloa, either home or away, beating the previous best, 2-0, achieved in 1922.

 

Rangers’ last victory over Alloa at Ibrox, came in the Scottish Cup in 2012 when Gers beat the Wasps, then in a higher division , 7-0 with Dean Shiels and Barrie McKay both grabbing doubles. Last season, Alloa left with a point on both league visits to Ibrox.

 

Of Rangers’ five league goals against Alloa last season, only one, scored by Nicky Law in the 1-0 win at Recreation Park in January, came in the first half. Contrastingly, four of the five strikes at the same venue earlier this season came before the interval

 

Jimmy Simpson (1947/48) is the only player to have managed Alloa since the war having previously played for Rangers. Alex Totten (1980/82) was in also charge of Alloa before a spell as an assistant to Jock Wallace at Ibrox (1983/86).

 

Alloa changed their stadium’s name from Recreation Park to the Indodrill Stadium prior to their last league meeting with Rangers on September 20, 2014.

 

Alloa are known as the Wasps due to the yellow and black colours that they first wore over 100 years ago. A new club badge was launched in 2010 with a modern-looking comic insect.

 

Alloa were formed in 1878 and were originally known as Clackmannan County. That moniker lasted for one season and they then became the Alloa Association Football Club before they became Alloa Athletic in 1883.

 

Archie McPherson was the manager of Alloa for 10 years from 1959. No, not that one, but a former defender who played at Rangers, Liverpool, Sheffield United and Falkirk and who went by the nickname ‘Curly’

 

http://rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/opposition-focus-alloa-5/

[Rousseau 9,486]

Just realised there was no preview! I've cobbled together some things from the Rangers site as a stand-in match thread.

Edited April 23, 2016 by Rousseau

[Rousseau 9,486]

Despite several changes -- No Miller! *changes FGS prediction* -- it's quite an attacking line-up. It'll be interesting to see how Halliday, Zelalem and Holt play together, as it's been a while, and the front-three is quite direct-looking.

 

Hopefully young Burt can get some game-time.

Edited April 23, 2016 by Rousseau

[Rousseau 9,486]

The pitch does look impressive:

 

[tweet]723825066123898882[/tweet]

 

'Arry certainly thinks so!

 

[tweet]723815838269235200[/tweet]

Edited April 23, 2016 by Rousseau

[pete 2,499]

Shit I had in my head the game was tomorrow and have missed the first half.

1-1 at HT but I have no idea what happened

[der Berliner 3,283]

Alloa got away early on after a bad throw in by Halliday, who really seems to have an off day. Zelalem essentially running the show with McKay and Holt. About 75% possession, shots raining in (not least from King, total 15 with 6 on target), but Gallagher (again) holds firm. McKay gets chopped down by McAusland, but Halliday sends the penalty wide, then delivers a cross unto the head of Tav to get us a much deserved equalizer.

Edited April 23, 2016 by der Berliner

[Rousseau 9,486]

I think we've been excellent, albeit nowhere near clinical enough. The penetration has been better than midweek, with us creating several good chances; players are just complacent on the finish. We gave away another sloppy goal -- almost carbon-copy of the first goal midweek -- which was disappointing and unnecessary. We've controlled the game, created chances and thoroughly deserve to have scored a few goals.

 

I think Clark's role has suited us, giving our attacking midfielders a target-man with which to link up; the little one-twos between Clark and an attacker have been superb to watch, although not fruitful yet because the finishing has been poor. I think Clark will go, but another striker that links-up well and leads the line would be a beneficial option up top.

[Rousseau 9,486]

I prefer this midfield combination (Zelalem, Holt and Halliday) as I think it allows us to create more chances. We need Ball in there for the trickier games, but I think this is our best midfield.

[Rousseau 9,486]

A bit of relief that it's 1-1 at half-time, so we can now start from scratch in the 2nd. It would be incredible if we didn't get another few goals, with the way we've been playing.