Rangers, assured of a second-placed finish in the Scottish Premiership, welcome European hopefuls Dundee United to Ibrox Stadium on Wednesday evening.
While the hosts have little at stake, the visitors remain in contention for a top-four finish, sitting fifth in the table and just three points outside of the European spots.
Match preview
Rangers, despite securing a second-placed finish in the Scottish Premiership, have endured a season filled with significant challenges and obstacles.
The Gers began the season under Philippe Clement, who led the team to their worst start to a league campaign after 12 matches since returning to the top flight in 2016-17, and further disappointing records followed suit.
Rangers endured a disheartening 1-0 defeat to Queen’s Park in the fifth round of the Scottish FA Cup in February – a result that marked their first-ever home loss to a lower-division side in the competition during the club’s 153-year history.
Clement was dismissed just two games later following a 2-0 loss to St Mirren, paving the way for Barry Ferguson to step in as interim manager for the remainder of the season, with the caretaker boss eager to make a strong case for a permanent appointment.
After winning four of his first six games in charge, Ferguson endured a six-match winless run, but Rangers emphatically broke that streak with a 4-0 triumph over Aberdeen last time out – his first victory at Ibrox as manager.
Now looking to maintain that momentum in the final two games of the campaign, Rangers will host a Dundee United side that are still battling for a European place in the league.
Dundee United have exceeded expectations in their first season back in the top flight, building on last term’s Scottish Championship title triumph to unexpectedly battle for a top-four finish.
Jim Goodwin‘s men ended the regular season sitting fourth in the table, but three successive defeats in their opening post-split fixtures have caused the Tangerines to drop to fifth.
Despite that, Dundee Utd still trail fourth-placed Aberdeen by only three points and third-placed Hibernian by just six, meaning they will still have their eye on a European qualification place.
With a victory of paramount importance, Dundee Utd will have to overcome Rangers for the first time since a 1-0 win in August 2021, having failed to triumph in any of the last nine encounters.
Team News
Rangers will be without the services of Dujon Sterling and Ridvan Yilmaz due to ongoing injury issues, while Ianis Hagi has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
After a 4-0 win against Aberdeen, Ferguson may opt for a largely unchanged starting 11, with the potential exception of Hamza Igamane replacing Nedim Bajrami, who was substituted at half-time with the score still 0-0.
As for the visitors, Dundee Utd will be without Luca Stephenson and Ross Graham due to ongoing injury issues, with the latter not expected to feature again this season.
Dundee Utd have scored just one goal in their three post-split fixtures, and they will be hoping top scorer Sam Dalby, with 14 in 33 league games, can make the difference in this one.
Rangers possible starting lineup:
Kelly; Tavernier, Souttar, Balogun, Jefte; Barron, Raskin; Cerny, Diomande, Dessers; Igamane
Dundee United possible starting lineup:
Walton; Adegboyega, Gallagher, Sevelj; Strain, Trapanovski, Sibbald, Ferry; Middleton; Dalby, Moult
We say: Rangers 2-0 Dundee United
Rangers have dominated this fixture in recent years, and given Dundee Utd’s dismal three-game losing streak, we expect the hosts to secure another win in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
