Rangers

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Rangers manager Philippe Clement is top of a five-man shortlist to succeed under-pressure Belgium boss Domenico Tedesco. (Sun), external

Connor Goldson says "standards got lower" at Rangers after Steven Gerrard's departure as manager, and the club hasn't been the same since their title win in 2020-21. (Daily Record), external

Lennon Miller - reportedly valued at £4m by Motherwell - would only leave Fir Park for a club where he would continue to play first-team football, and Craig Moore thinks the 19-year-old would "walk into" Rangers' midfield. (Daily Record, external)

Former Rangers defender Borna Barisic could have his Trabzonspor contract ended by mutual termination after just five months with the Turkish club. (Daily Record), external

Connor Goldson says Rangers would be making a massive mistake if they were to sell James Tavernier. (Daily Record), external

Rangers are front-runners to sign Peterborough winger Kwamwe Poku in January. (Football Insider), external

Former Rangers loanee Fabio Silva could make his Portugal debut on Monday against Croatia, in a game that directly affects Scotland's Nations League hopes. (Selecao Portugal on X), external

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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Despite returning to winning ways in the league last weekend, goalscoring remains a concern for Rangers.

Philippe Clement's men went into the international break with three points, but the nature of their laboured 1-0 victory over Hearts at Ibrox has become the theme of their unconvincing season.

One reason for that is quite simple - they have not scored enough.

The fact St Mirren, Dundee and Dundee United all have more than Rangers' league tally of 16 goals paints a bleak picture.

Granted, those three clubs have played more games than Clement's side, but both Dundee teams still boast a better goals-per-game ratio.

Meanwhile, leaders Celtic have scored almost double their city rivals' amount and Aberdeen are eight ahead.

This comes even with Rangers boasting the second highest expected goals (xG) tally - 20 - in the league, which they are underperforming by four.

In addition to that, only three Premiership teams have a worse shot conversion rate (9.14%) despite the Ibrox side creating the second most big chances (35) in the division.

Cyriel Dessers, who has 10 goals this term across all competitions, often faces intense scrutiny for those missed opportunities.

The striker scored the winning goal on Sunday and Rangers' Europa League equaliser at Olympiakos last Thursday, but he also passed up several chances in both games.

Following the win over Hearts, Clement defended the forward by saying "a striker who scores every game for Rangers will not stay very long".

But the harsh reality is the Belgian still needs more from his first-choice striker, whoever it is, as well as the rest of his team if they are to stand any chance of mounting a title challenge.

Five months on, the regret still lingers among Scotland players over their dismal Euro 2024 showing, says Ryan Jack.

The midfielder was part of Steve Clarke's squad at the finals and has opened up on the frustration of Scotland stumbling to another group-stage exit.

The Scots bowed out after defeats by Germany and Hungary either side of their solitary point in a 1-1 draw with Switzerland.

As Clarke's side prepare to host Croatia in the Nations League on Friday night, Jack told the BBC's Scottish football podcast: "I still keep in touch with quite a lot of the players that are still involved.

"Over the summer we were bitterly disappointed. There's no getting away from it. Not just on the results, but on the performances and a bit of regret not really thinking that we showed what we showed in the qualifying campaign, which was so good.

"When we went to the tournament we never showed that, so there was a big frustration there."

Scotland, who have won just once in 16 games, enter their final two Nations League outings - they visit Poland on Monday - bottom of the group and battling to avoid relegation from the top tier.

However, Jack is encouraged by the post-Euros performances and says Clarke and the squad have harnessed the disappointment.

The 32-year-old, who joined Turkish second-tier side Esenler Erokspor after his Rangers exit in the summer, said: "I think since the Euros, I'm sure the manager and the staff went away, reflected heavily on how that went.

"And then I'm sure these players, because there's no doubt I did when I left, you look back and you think, what could have we done differently? There's all sorts, it does go through your head. So I'm sure everyone's reflected.

"And then I'm sure when they've met up again in the squad after that, it's been a case of, right, let's discuss it, let's park it. And this is how we're going to move forward.

"The manager is very good at that and he's very strong-minded. He's strong at addressing what goes wrong.

"Obviously results haven't really come after the Euros but I definitely think performances have."

Former Rangers defender Alan Hutton believes alarm bells are ringing at Ibrox because of Aberdeen's flying start to the season under Jimmy Thelin. (Press and Journal), external

Celtic and Rangers ready to move for 18-year-old midfielder Lennon Miller, but Motherwell will hold out for a £4m fee for the Scotland Under-19 international. (Daily Mail), external

Rangers are monitoring FCSB midfielder Darius Olaru, but the Romanian club would demand a decent fee for the 26-year-old who is under contract until 2028 and that might be out of reach of the Scottish Premiership club given current finances. (Football Insider), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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BBC Scotland's chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering your questions on Rangers.

Jim asked: Tom, I wrote to you on 5 September this year and asked if Mr Clement was the right man for Rangers. You said that he was and that he had won cups and leagues in other parts of Europe. His is only a defeat or draw away from losing his job now. What are your thoughts now?

Tom answered: I don't think he's a defeat or a draw away from losing his job. I know that's how it's been framed, but how do we know?

We were told that if they lost at Hamden, he was a goner. Who says? Where does that information come from? I think that's just a creation. It's something we think should happen, or maybe Rangers fans think should happen, but there's no substance to it.

Clement has a hell of a job on his hands. He's got a squad that's patchy, unimpressive. He's also the figurehead of the club because there's no permanent chairman, there's no chief executive. Many of the key positions have a big vacant sign on them.

I have a lot of sympathy for Clement because he's getting it in the neck from his own fans for the really underwhelming performances Rangers are putting in. While at the same time, there doesn't appear to be leadership around him. There's nobody there to kind of lighten his load from what I can see. It's all on him.

I do still think he's the man for the job but the job is getting harder and harder. And I think some of these post-match stuff is not impressive. He's coming across as a guy that's struggling.

Compared to the Aberdeen situation, the fact Clement comes in and talks about a rebuild and it's a long-term project. Jimmy Thelin has come in at Aberdeen, it's a rebuild. It's a project, but it hasn't taken long term to fix it and Aberdeen now are putting pressure on Clement.

But I don't think there's anything served by getting rid of him. That's another manager you've got to pay off. And who would you get in? These are troubling times at Rangers, but I'm not sure sacking the guy is the right way to go.

Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

If you had informed the Rangers support at the start of the season that by the mid-November international break they would be nine points behind Aberdeen, not only would not a single one of them have believed you, but they would have rightly been seething at the very thought.

There is little doubt they have been third best so far this campaign, saving their best performances for the European stage as they did again last week, performing well to earn a valuable away point against Olympiakos before turning in a turgid display in securing victory over Hearts.

The European performances and results have surely helped keep Philippe Clement in a job, though clearly there is also a desire in the boardroom to instil a measure of stability rather than go through the expensive and difficult process of sacking and appointing managers on an annual basis.

Clement must find a way of replicating the impressive European form on the domestic stage and try to eat into the nine-point lead of Celtic and Aberdeen between now and the turn of the year. That will be easier said than done, with neither of the league leaders looking like dropping points.

The return to form of Nico Raskin has been one positive for the manager of late. The Belgian is looking more like the player we saw when he first arrived at Ibrox and with Vaclav Cerny providing a more consistent attacking threat in recent times, there are chinks of light amid the storm clouds for Clement and the beleaguered Rangers fanbase.

The bold decision from Clement to replace James Tavernier with Dujon Sterling in Athens was one I said last week felt necessary. And though Tavernier returned to the starting XI against Hearts, Sterling or even Neraysho Kasanwirjo probably deserve a run in the team. Kasanwirjo would arguably be a better option than Robin Propper at centre-back if Leon Balogun cannot play every game.

Rangers have seven league games left in 2024. All are winnable and realistically have to be won if they are to stand any chance of mounting a comeback in the title race. Of course interspersed in that run are Europa League games against Nice and Tottenham, off the back of which they play Celtic in the League Cup final.

So it is another arduous yet exciting period before Rangers play Celtic at Ibrox in the new year. They simply cannot afford to be further behind the champions before then, but domestic performances have to get better for that to be the case.

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Rangers scouts were in attendance to watch Kwame Poku score a League One hat-trick for Peterborough United against Cambridge United but will face competition for the 23-year-old Ghana winger should they make an approach. (Rangers News), external

Jamie Currie
Fan writer

Sometimes Rangers put in a performance like the second half against Motherwell at Hampden and the Europa League match at Olympiakos, where they should have won, and you wonder if they are turning a wee corner.

Then you turn up to Ibrox on Sunday and see them get off to a great start. They were pressing Hearts high, forcing turnovers and looking good for the first 10 minutes. Then it instantly goes very flat and all a bit lazy.

This Rangers team is so unpredictable it's unbelievable. There are good players in there, but especially domestically, they are extremely boring. They play in bursts and cannot put a decent performance together for any length of time.

It's got to the point that you're more confident of getting a good result in Nice after the international break than you are at St Johnstone at the start of December.

It's very frustrating to watch and it appears we are just limping from one poor performance to another. It doesn't seem like it's sustainable to win and scrape by week on week.

You have to hope we get a result and a better performance at Ibrox against Dundee United after the international break, but you just know it will be more of the same. It's all we have to go on so far.

Former Rangers and Aberdeen striker Billy Dodds ponders which club will finish higher in the Premiership this season, with the Dons currently nine points above Philippe Clement's men after 11 Premiership games.

Romania great Gheorghe Hagi has told son Ianis, 26, to keep his head up despite the midfielder's lack of playing time at Rangers. (National), external

Bologna and Scotland midfielder Lewis Ferguson, 25, has revealed that being released by Rangers, for whom father Derek and uncle Barry had played, at the age of 14 still hurts and helps motivate him to push for more success. (Record), external

Everton manager Sean Dyche has thrown down the gauntlet to Nathan Patterson to end the injury woes that have plagued the 23-year-old Scotland right-back since leaving Rangers. (Record), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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You'd be forgiven for thinking there aren't many similarities between the Nigerian national side and Rangers, but defender Leon Balogun would tell you otherwise.

The centre-back believes the pressure of representing the Super Eagles is comparable to performing for the Ibrox crowd.

Rangers were subject to groans from the Ibrox crowd on Sunday despite a 1-0 league win against Hearts, following their last domestic outing - an eventual League Cup semi-final win over Motherwell, where they were booed off at half-time.

"Playing for the Nigerian national team actually prepared me, because believe me or not, they probably have just as much expectation as our supporters," Balogun said.

"Let me put one out there. I was at Rangers at the time and we played against Sierra Leone. We were winning 4-1 – good for me as I came off after 60 minutes – and we ended the game 4-4.

"And on the way back to the hotel, some of the security stuff said, 'don't sit next to the windows'.

"Some players closed the curtains and then five minutes into the drive, you turn the corner and they threw stones at the bus, our own fans. So I guess that kind of prepared me."

Although Rangers fans haven't been hurling stones at the team bus, they have been frustrated with the start their side has made to the campaign in which they are nine points behind Aberdeen and Celtic.

"It's my fourth season at the club, I know what it can be like, and you just have to get on with it to be very honest, there are moments probably where you think, 'OK, that’s a bit unreasonable', but it's just the club," Balogun added.

"You have to put that weight on your shoulders as soon as you put on the shirt and deal with it. And obviously it can have an impact every now and then, or sometimes for some players more than others, especially if they're a bit younger, if they're not used to it. But like I said, you have to get on with it."

We asked for your views on Rangers' 1-0 Scottish Premiership win over Hearts.

Here's a taste of what you had to say:

Iain: Turgid fare! The gap between us and the top two is no mistake. Too many passengers and too much debt. We also seem to never use our youth products. What do we need? A miracle and £40 million.

Frazer: We will finish third this term and deserve no more than that. There is no conviction in any of our play. Yes, we got the win; I don't know if Clement has a game plan, or the players are just not good enough. This is going to be a long, dreary season.

Phil: Yet another horrendous domestic game, scraped the win only because Hearts blew two golden chances. Three points, but all the positivity from Thursday wiped away. When will we start to see consistently good performances?

Doug: Yet again, other than an early goal, the team continue to underperform. One big worry of mine is Philippe Clement's poor use of subs and his post-match reference to "the team's continued improvement". I really don't know what game he was watching? Sadly I fear this season is over for Rangers.

Stephen: A hard watch again! We can't seem to kill games off the way other teams can! OK it's three points, but the performance needs to get better.

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Philippe Clement may have been "very satisfied" with his side's 1-0 win over Hearts on Sunday, but there are still big question marks about his future at Ibrox.

He did, at least, admit that his side "became too sloppy" in another performance that frustrated supporters.

Former Rangers keeper Cammy Bell believes the club can use the international break to rest players and "take away the heat".

"It's still unconvincing at the moment," Bell told the Scottish Football podcast. "There's a nervousness around Ibrox. There has been for a long time now.

"Yes, it's three points and the international break and it's probably come at a good time for him. Time for him to reset spend time with players on the training pitch, that are going to be available to him. It'll take away the heat that's been on him for the last few weeks."

Although there was some optimism through the week with a 1-1 draw against Olympiakos in the Europa League, fans were still restless after the 2-1 win over Motherwell in the League Cup semi-final that saw Rangers trail before coming back to win.

In October there were three losses. A hammering against Lyon, before league defeats against Kilmarnock and Aberdeen that have seen them fall far behind Celtic and the Dons in the table.

"It's been intense for Rangers," Bell continued. "That defeat against Aberdeen was damaging and it's still in the back of everyone's mind.

"But [the win over Hearts] will go a little bit towards to re-healing the damage that's been done."

Watch highlights from Rangers Scottish Premiership win over Hearts.

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What would you like to ask Tom English about Rangers?

Our chief sportswriter is in the hotseat ready to answer your questions and offer his insight and opinion on your club.

Answers will be provided on Tuesday’s episode of the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast and on this page later in the week.

Put your questions to Tom here., external

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Rangers manager Philippe Clement says unpopular substitutions like the withdrawal of Connor Barron in the 1-0 home win against Hearts is down to managing players' work loads. (Sun), external

Supporters "don’t know all the facts," insists Clement. (Mail), external

Clement believes Sunday's match winner Cyriel Dessers is taking steps to be more clinical in front of goal. (Herald - subscription), external

Hearts boss Neil Critchley believes there should have been more added time at Ibrox. (Herald - subscription), external

Read Monday's Scottish gossip

Unconvincing Rangers narrowly overcame Hearts at Ibrox to return to within nine points of Scottish Premiership pacesetters Celtic and Aberdeen.

Despite a quick and slick start, which was rewarded with an early Cyriel Dessers goal, Phillipe Clement’s side failed to build on their early breakthrough and limped to victory instead of storming to it.

Dessers’ 10th of the season, and third in three games, was the difference as both sides showed signs of a midweek European hangover.

The returning James Tavernier - who started on the bench against Olympiakos on Thursday - tore down the right and struck goalwards, and his effort appeared to be diverted past Craig Gordon by Dessers' deft close-range touch.

Give us your thoughts on the game here., external

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

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This was an all too familiar show for the restless Rangers support.

They had reason to be optimistic after a hard-fought and potentially precious point in Greece, and a sharp start here, but that positivity soon dissipated.

Instead of going for the jugular, Rangers retreated further and further and welcomed Hearts into their final third. Luckily, the visitors weren’t up to much once they got there.

The deeper the home side got on the pitch and the deeper the contest got, the more frustrated the fans and Clement grew at the disjointed and disappointing play.

Rangers know they can’t afford to lose anymore ground on the top two, and while they didn’t do that this weekend, performances of this ilk will not be enough to claw back the gap. And neither will they be tolerated.

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Rangers manager Phillipe Clement: "I'm very satisfied with the result and the deserved three points.

"Our first half was good in many moments, we scored a very good goal.

"We missed scoring the second goal, though and we know that until you get that goal the other team stays in the game, so I want us to kill the belief of the opponent faster.

"We didn't show the same quality in the second half and we didn't finish off the game. We had a few chances, but it stays nervous until the last second in the stands.

"We made too many wrong chances with the ball and became too sloppy. It's the end of a very busy period though, with a lot of travelling and they're all human beings, not robots.

"We need to manage the game better, but, we have young players.

"I don't want to hear from anyone that playing in four competitions is tough, players don't come here just to play in the league."

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Ianis Hagi and Danilo return to the Rangers squad after not being part of the European squad. Ridvan Yilmaz and Rabbi Matondo are pushing for returns while Oscar Cortes is further behind. Tom Lawrence is out for four to six weeks with a leg injury.

Hearts manager Neil Critchley expects to be selecting from an unchanged squad. Yutaro Oda and Calem Nieuwenhof are both closing in on a return but not expected to be ready for Ibrox.

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• Rangers are unbeaten in 16 meetings with Heart of Midlothian in all competitions (W12 D4) since a 0-2 Scottish Cup quarter-final loss in February 2020.

• Hearts are without a win in their last 16 away games at Rangers in all competitions (D3 L13) since a 2-1 victory on the opening day of the 2014-15 Scottish Championship season.

• Rangers have won 18 of their last 20 home league games (D1 L1), including each of their last seven in a row, and all five so far in 2024-25.

• Hearts have accumulated as many points in four league games under Neil Critchley (7 – W2 D1 L1) as their previous 12 league matches before he joined combined (W1 D4 L7).

• Vaclav Cerny has scored four goals in his five home appearances in the Scottish Premiership for Rangers, including three in his last two. Those four goals are the most by any player for the club home and away in the league this season.