Rangers

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Rangers manager Philippe Clement says there was no way of foreseeing the club's defensive injury crisis, and defended the work done to improve his squad's fitness.

When he took over from Michael Beale, the Belgian said there were a "a lot of things" he would do differently in training in order to minimise injuries.

The Ibrox club are currently without captain James Tavernier, Leon Balogun, John Souttar and Neraysho Kasanwirjo in defensive areas, as well as goalkeeper Jack Butland.

Dujon Sterling is also a doubt for Thursday's Scottish Premiership trip to Dens Park, but Clement insists the current situation is different to last season's injury woes.

"It's a totally different situation," said Clement, who will also be without suspended midfielder Nicolas Raskin and Tom Lawrence for the game against Tony Docherty's side.

"Last season, we had in big spells, 10 to 12 players out. Now we have four for sure. OK, Jack also, but that's an accident. It's not really an injury. It's a contact injury. And some of the others are also contact injuries. that's part of football.

"The difficult thing is, it's all in one position. So that's a difficulty for every club in the world. You cannot predict that and it is not possible to have seven centre backs in your squad.

"So we never been in a situation this season that we have had 12 injuries at the same time and the club also worked really hard to strengthen some departments.

"So there are really good steps made in that way, so we cannot compare with the situation that was last season."

Clement says he needs to find solutions in order to muddle through, and cited Ridvan Yilmaz's performances out of position at right-back.

He hinted he will also look to counter Dundee's set-piece strength having been undone there in the 3-3 draw against Hibs.

"We need to be creative, to have the good level with the defence and not to concede the goals that we conceded against Hibs on the two set pieces.

"I need to make choices around that, also towards this game, because it's also one of the strengths of Dundee."

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Rangers manager Philippe Clement has been talking to the media before Thursday's Scottish Premiership match away to Dundee.

Here are the best bits from his press conference:

• Jack Butland, John Souttar, Leon Balogun, James Tavernier, Neraysho Kasanwirjo and Tom Lawrence are all out for Thursday's game. Dujon Sterling is a doubt. Souttar and Tavernier will miss the weekend too.

• Despite the lengthy injury list, Clement insists the club have improved on the medical side. He says it is just unfortunate that all the injuries are in the same area of the team.

• On potential January transfers, Clement says chief executive Patrick Stewart will address the media on the club's plans "in the next couple of days".

• Injuries have allowed other players to step up and become "a positive surprise", with Clement citing Ridvan Yilmaz's performances at right-back.

• The Belgian manager says Rangers haven't taken any points in games where they haven't deserved them this season. Stressed that they need to get better at winning even when playing poorly.

Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

While there is rarely a dull moment when it comes to the affairs of Rangers Football Club, the month ahead - on-field and off-field - could be worth getting the popcorn in for.

It started in typically unpredictable fashion with the fabulous win over Celtic being followed by another away-day slip-up at Easter Road, with Philippe Clement's side showing just how good and how fragile they can be over the course of those two games.

It was the results immediately prior to the Celtic game against St Mirren and Motherwell that had Clement's critics renewing their calls for the Belgian to be replaced. In the minds of some, he is beyond redemption.

While some of his selections and comments can justifiably be questioned, it is unfair to overlook some of the more positive aspects of his management, with the European performances a particular highlight, and I will also return to a previously-raised question of how progress can ever be made by continually discarding managers.

Assuming he has the trust of new chief executive Patrick Stewart and chairman Fraser Thornton, Clement and technical director Nils Koppen have a hugely important few weeks ahead as they look to try to strengthen the squad for the short and longer-term within the parameters of the finances available to them.

A few rabbits are going to have to be plucked from hats if they are to narrow the gap on Celtic and put together a side that can not only better their rivals in a one-off game but achieve a similar consistency over the course of a season.

They will have to try to move on some of the club's peripheral figures - easier said than done - to generate the cash required to invigorate the squad and allow Clement the opportunity to show that with his own players, he can demonstrate progress and win over the naysayers.

Improved domestic results, principally away from home are a must, starting at Dundee on Thursday before attentions turn later in the month to two massive European nights at Old Trafford and at Ibrox against Union St Gilloise when their Europa League destiny will be decided.

By then, Clement will have fine-tuned the squad that will serve him for the rest of the season and the one whose success will determine his own future at the club.

Rangers forward Vaclav Cerny insists he is ignoring all speculation about his future despite reported interest from La Liga. (Scottish Sun)

Ex-Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha has revealed how much work his staff had to do with striker Alfredo Morelos to get his fitness up to speed at Ibrox. (Daily Record)

Former striker Don Goodman has told Rangers to sign Sam Johnstone following Jack Butland's injury after the England goalkeeper lost his place in the Wolves starting XI. (The Scotsman)

Read the rest of Wednesday's gossip.

Jamie Currie
Fan writer

Last week we saw the two sides of this Rangers team. The good came in the Old Firm victory where they were excellent in every aspect of the game and thoroughly deserved the victory.

And then the exact same starting 11 pitch up at Easter Road and play in the same way for half an hour and yet again come up short after taking the lead twice.

From the Hibs draw, you can't fault Hamza Igamane. He's becoming an Alfredo Morelos-type figure for this team. He scores a perfect hat-trick and is let down by his defence for Hibs' first and third goals.

Just to touch on the penalty for a second. From my vantage point at Easter Road it looked a stonewaller, but watching it back it seems Ianis Hagi was fouled by Josh Campbell. That may be the blue-tinted specs, but it appeared to be very soft.

However, that is not an excuse. Because when you throw away a lead like we did twice, it says a lot about the lack of tactical nous of the manager and the lack of game management by the players.

It's not good enough. You can talk about injuries but if you have to pick players you cannot rely on then they shouldn't be at the club.

Next up we go to Dundee, who will fancy it. They should fancy it because our away record is embarrassing. It's not down to ability, I feel it's down to attitude and the whole club missing that winning mentality.

We have played 10 away games and taken 12 points. Until we sort that, we will always be miles off where we want to be.

From a fan's point of view, it just won't do. You can lift your game against Spurs and Celtic but if you cannot win the run-of-the-mill away matches, it should never be considered acceptable.

Rangers fans, we asked what business you'd like to see your side do in January.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Coll: Tie up Zak Lovelace on a longer contract and Leon Balogun on another deal. Grant Hanley should be brought in from Norwich on a two-year deal, he adds a bit of pace and steel to the backline. A top professional with experience and leadership.

Doug: Rangers need better defensive options, particularly at centre-back where a pacey, aggressive centre-half is needed. Particularly with John Souttar's injury issues and Robin Propper's unsuitability to Scottish football .

Tom: Sell Cyriel Dessers, Robin Propper, James Tavernier, Tom Lawrence and Rabbi Matondo. Buy Lawrence Shankland and a good centre-back.

Matt: Three defenders, two wingers, two strikers. Dessers, Kieran Dowell, Ross McCausland and Robin Propper gone.

Dave: Sell the whole squad apart from Hamza Igamane and John Souttar and start again. We have no attacking threat.

Chris: My dream transfer window is first to get rid of the poor performers Dessers, Dowell and others. Then let's get two injury free centre-backs and a proven goalscorer.

Alexander: What Rangers need is a complete top to bottom clearout - people that are going to pull their weight and do the job they are employed to do. We want honest players that earn their wage and don't expect paid for doing nothing more than turn up. We need a forward that knows how to do a forward's job, stays on his feet and is not offside.

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A member of the Rangers board has suggested 37-year-old Manchester United centre-back Jonny Evans as a January signing, but manager Philippe Clement is put off by the Northern Irishman's age. (Daily Record), external

Former Rangers winger Ryan Kent is a free agent but could be on his way to Blackburn Rovers (Scottish Sun)., external

Read this morning's Scottish gossip in full.

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Goalkeeper Liam Kelly says he is "so angry" at Rangers' failure to see out victory at Hibernian.

The Ibrox side were ahead twice in an incredible match at Easter Road, firstly taking a two-goal lead before edging 3-2 in front in the later stages.

The former Motherwell captain felt his side played well for long periods of Sunday's 3-3 draw, but he was left exasperated by sloppy defending.

Kelly, who has been deputising in the absence of first-choice keeper Jack Butland, looked unconvincing for Hibs' late leveller when Rocky Bushiri headed in from a corner.

"Obviously when you play for this club, if you score three goals that should be more than enough to win the game," the Scotland international said.

"I was really annoyed at the defensive moments we gave away. It was sloppy from us. We should never concede three goals.

"Defensively, in moments, we weren't strong enough and it was not good enough. We should have won the game.

"I thought we played well a lot, but we didn't defend well in moments. There was loads of good stuff, but nobody cares when you don't win the game.

"I'm not even going to sit here and try to waste anybody's time by talking about the good stuff, because nobody cares if you don't get over the line.

"We need to look at the stuff we didn't do well and make sure we cut that out.

Hamza Igamane: Has gone from project player to jewel in the crown at Rangers in double quick time. The 22-year old was outstanding as he scored the perfect hat-trick at Easter Road.

From a player who looked decidedly raw not that long ago, the speed of transformation has been quite incredible. Strong, fast, with an eye for goal and a maverick edge, which makes him very difficult for opponents to deal with.

Came so close to scoring the winner against Hibs with what would have been an incredible fourth.

The Sportscene team analyse Rangers striker Hamza Igamane's sublime display in Sunday's 3-3 draw at Hibernian.

Available to UK users only

Rangers fans, we asked for your views on the dramatic 3-3 draw with Hibs at Easter Road on Sunday.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Anon: Basic player errors are costing Philippe Clement his job. Alongside his inability to see the areas of concern that cost us almost every game now. I know we have injured defenders, but how he allows Robin Propper to take no responsibility at set pieces is shocking.

Brian: Hamza Igamane has provided yet again he is the man for our strikers position. He is head and shoulders above Cyriel Dessers, scoring three and looking for four, when did this last happen,? Kris Boyd I think. Two poor unnecessary tackles to give Hibs two goals, poor defence, passing, and some tired looking players. That's why it was a draw.

Stephen: Yet again a case of one step forward two back! We should have pushed on at both 2-0 and 3-2 up!

Alex: Once again the defence let us down. We scored three great goals, but being so sloppy and hesitant at the back has been the story of our season. Really disappointing after such a great result in the Old Firm. We must strengthen the defence in January.

Alan: What is going on at Rangers? How can this team turn Celtic inside out in an outstanding display and then fail so dramatically against Hibs. There is something seriously wrong with the way in which the team are approaching each game.

Phil: The manager's excuses are wearing thin. Instead of focusing on his team's performance he was banging on about the Hibs penalty, which in my view was a penalty. Rangers need to learn to play for ninety minutes plus. Not twenty minutes.

Lennie: Another bad result away from home, should have been 4-0 after 20 minutes, instead we are again made to pay for the missed chances. Frustrating watching this Rangers team. Changes have to be made for us to get anywhere near the level Celtic are on.

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• Martin Boyle has scored five goals in the Premiership this season (two in this game), more than any other Hibernian player.

• Hamza Igamane has scored seven goals in the Premiership this season (three in this game), no Rangers player has more.

• Hamza Igamane scored after just three minutes and 53 seconds, the fastest goal for Rangers in the Premiership this season.

• Hibernian have scored in each of their last six games in the Premiership, scoring 13 goals in that run.

• Hibernian have won 10 points from losing positions in the Premiership this season, only Dundee United (11) and Kilmarnock (12) have recovered more.

• Hibernian are undefeated in their last six games in the Premiership, their last joint longest unbeaten streak was from 17 February 2024 to 16 March 2024.

• Ianis Hagi has assisted four goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), no Rangers player has more.

Watch all six goals from Hibernian's dramatic 3-3 draw with Rangers in the Scottish Premiership (UK only).

Defender Bamo Meite, who joined Marseille in the summer for close to £9m, is being eyed by Rangers and Montpellier. (Telefoot via Daily Record, external)

Read the rest of Monday's Scottish gossip.

Watch all six goals from Hibernian and Rangers' Scottish Premiership draw in 60 seconds (UK only).

Rangers manager Philippe Clement: "I saw a lot of good things from my team, good football, good goals, but also a goal against with the penalty that I don't understand.

"It's a collision between two players or even the attacking player maybe on full speed tries to slow down to get a contact. You can give the foul to both sides. You can never give a penalty for a situation like that. That was a decisive moment. It gave Hibs a lot of energy and belief.

"We played a very good first half. We found the spaces like we wanted to and we could have scored more than the two goals. Second half, it was more in the balance. Hibs had to force and we were maybe too patient and not killers enough to score the third.

"That's the next step to take with this team, the game management in those moments, but getting a penalty like that changes the momentum. We reacted really well, scored the third goal in a good way and then you lose a duel on a set-piece for 3-3. It's totally not what the team deserved."

Asked about the possibility of reinforcements this month...

"Those are questions for [CEO] Patrick [Stewart]. How the club sees things, so he will address that in the short-term."

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Were you at Easter Road or following the match elsewhere?

Either way, we want your views on the chaotic 3-3 draw between Hibernian and Rangers - have your say, external.

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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Philippe Clement will not face any criticism for tinkering with his starting line-up in this one, but he will face intense scrutiny for another disappointing result on the road.

His side have dropped points in seven of their 10 away league games this term, a run of form that simply makes a title challenge impossible.

The Belgian is without his first-choice goalkeeper, first-choice right-back and arguably his first-choice centre-back pairing, but that was not an issue in the derby.

Clement will rue missed chances in the opening period before Hibs woke up, with Nedim Bajrami, Hamza Igamane and Vaclav Cerny all passing up good opportunities.

But scoring three and not winning cannot be an option for any Rangers side.

Taking a glass-half-full view, Clement has an absolute gem in Hamza Igamane. The 22-year-old's sublime display in Leith cements his status as Rangers' first pick in the centre of their attack.

Rangers defender Adam Devine, out of contract in the summer, is being looked at by West Bromwich Albion and could be available for a small fee. (Alan Nixon - subscription), external

With Scotland full-back Nathan Patterson eager to secure a loan move away from Goodison Park amid speculation over a return to Rangers, Everton are preparing to submit an official offer for Galatasaray defender Elias Jelert. (Tavkim via Daily Record, external)

Read the rest of Sunday's Scottish gossip.

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Robin Propper says Rangers' impressive victory against Celtic will only matter if they can produce that level of performance consistently.

The Dutch defender scored Rangers' second goal in the 3-0 win at Ibrox, which narrowed Celtic's lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership to 11 points.

The result came as something of a shock given Celtic's domestic form and that Rangers went into the game off the back of a defeat at St Mirren and a draw at Motherwell.

Philippe Clement's side were also without several key players - James Tavernier, Jack Butland, Leon Balogun and John Souttar all missed the game/

"That was a big game, so everybody wants to step up," Propper said.

"Everybody wants to take another level, and especially if you see that James is away, Jack is away, John and Leon are away.

"Then everybody wants to be better and help each other. But I think the quality is there.

"We have a really good team and we have to show it every time and that is the hard part. We try to do that and I think we can and this was a game where you have seen that we can do a lot.

"I think that's the key, to be consistent. These kind of games are different than maybe away games at St Mirren or Motherwell. So you have to adjust every time in that kind of game.

"Of course, the key is consistency because you have seen in this game, we can win 3-0 over Celtic but the last time we had a draw at Motherwell so we need to be consistent in what we do and to win every game."

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Hibernian expect to have Elie Youan back following a foot injury, while fellow forward Mykola Kuharevich and midfielder and captain Joe Newell face fitness checks after missing recent matches with groin issues.

Marvin Ekpiteta and Kieron Bowie are still out.

Rangers captain James Tavernier remains on the sidelines beside fellow defenders John Souttar and Neraysho Kasanwirjo.

Goalkeeper Jack Butland and centre-half Leon Balogun are unlikely to return, while midfielder Tom Lawrence continues his return to fitness.

Young defender Robbie Fraser was a substitute against Celtic on Thursday but has since joined Livingston on loan.