Rangers

Watch the Sportscene panel analyse Emmanuel Fernandez's goal for Rangers against Livingston in the Scottish Premiership.

Kilmarnock are prepared to listen to offers in January for David Watson, who is of interest to Rangers, as they see it as their last chance to raise important funds from the sale of the 20-year-old midfielder who is out of contract next summer. (Football Insider), external

Rangers head coach Danny Rohl says Nedim Bajrami could still have a future at Ibrox after the attacking midfielder made his first appearance under the German as a substitute in Saturday's 2-1 win over Livingston. (Scottish Sun), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Watch all the highlights from Rangers' 2-1 victory over Livingston in the Scottish Premiership.

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We asked for your views on Rangers' 2-1 victory over Livingston on Saturday.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Stuart: A hard fought victory. Not good on the eye but at least the three points were secured. Again James Tavernier and Nasser Djiga were a liability, hopefully Dujon Sterling can replace Tav and we can send Djiga back in January.

Louise: It was a good start taking an early lead but turned into a hard watch, however, winning ugly is still three points. We must take the positive that Danny Rohl is still winning domestic games but there is clearly still a lot of work to be done.

Allan: Difficult to break down that defence, which made the performance look worse than it was. I think Livi should have had a penalty, but Rangers deserved to win. Happy to get three points. We need more strength in depth in the squad.

Edwin: After so many dodgy refereeing decisions going against us, you would think Rangers fans would be happy to see some going our way. I'm not, though. We shouldn't be relying on bad decisions to beat teams like Livi.

David: Despite the three points it was backward steps. Desperately poor. Rohl must be wondering what he has to do to get a real tune out of this squad.

Bob: Unfortunately the Russell Martin farce has left us bereft of quality all over the pitch. I hope Danny Rohl gets the time to correct the mistakes. Injuries didn't help but defence looks weak and the attack toothless - not a good combination.

Steven: This is the weakest, softest Rangers team I can remember. I don't just mean the goals they concede but all over the park, we're second best in challenges and physicality. Oliver Antman and Thelo Aasgaard are empty shirts and I don't understand how the likes of Connor Barron and Lyall Cameron are sitting on the bench - at least these boys put in a shift and get stuck in.

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Emmanuel Fernandez is determined to grab his chance at Rangers after an inauspicious start to his Ibrox career.

The 24-year-old centre-back was signed from Peterborough in the summer for a reported fee of £3m, but only appeared twice under Russell Martin.

It was only after injuries to John Souttar and Derek Cornelius that he made his first start under new boss Danny Rohl, against Livingston at Ibrox on Saturday.

Fernandez made an early impression by heading in after from a James Tavernier corner after nine minutes.

After making just his fourth appearance, Fernandez looked forward to the Europa League clash with Braga at Ibrox on Thursday.

"I have confidence in myself and belief in myself to be better," he said. "I have got to take my opportunity. If I am playing on Thursday, I have to take it and grab it.

"That would be my first European game, and I can't wait to put my stamp on the game and show what I can do.

"Obviously, it's tough [not playing], but it's something I've experienced before. It makes you grow as a person."

Oscar Cortes could be set for a unexpected return to Rangers, with Sporting Gijon considering the possibility of cutting the 21-year-old winger's loan short. (El Comercio - in Spanish), external

Rangers earned a fourth successive Scottish Premiership win under head coach Danny Rohl, taking the points in controversial fashion to extend Livingston's long winless league run to 11 games.

Read the match report.

Have your say.

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Rangers manager Danny Rohl tells BBC Scotland: "It was a hard-work performance and a hard-work victory.

"After the goal we start to not concentrate enough and the opponents go behind with a long ball - it was too easy.

"We changed small details at half-time. We are pleased to have the win and that's the most important.

"We told the players at half-time we have to do more, invest more, need more runs without the ball.

"We will analyse the game as always and then go again."

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New Norwich City manager Philippe Clement reveals he once tried to sign the Canaries' Scotland midfielder Kenny McLean for Rangers. (The Herald - subscription required), external

Rangers chief executive Patrick Stewart earned £246,000 in the year to June, while director Fraser Thornton was paid £69,000. (Glasgow Times), external

Calum MacDonald
BBC Sport Scotland

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Connor Barron is determined to drive Rangers forward this season and earn a place in Scotland's World Cup squad.

The midfielder and clubmates John Souttar and Liam Kelly were part of Steve Clarke's squad as they qualified for next summer's finals with a dramatic 4-2 victory over Denmark on Tuesday.

Barron, a late call-up by Clarke, was an unused substitute in the final two qualifiers but savoured an "unforgettable night" and knows his participation at the World Cup rests on his club performance over the next six months.

The 23-year-old, who has featured in five of Danny Rohl's six matches in charge, said: "A real proud moment for me, an honour to be part of the group, it's one I'll never forget, all to look forward to in the summer and the World Cup.

"The way the game went was spectacular, it's great to see so many smiles on people's faces across the country.

"The plan, first and foremost, is to fix myself into the [Rangers] team, play well and hopefully that comes.

"It's something that's in the back of your head for now. It's down to me doing the work here and performing well to get to the World Cup.

"All I can do is perform well, it's up to the gaffer to pick a squad, it's down to my performances make sure I'm there."

Rangers currently sit fourth in the Scottish Premiership but Barron's experience with the national team gives him belief.

"You can never write football, anything can happen," the 23-year-old said.

"It's important you've got to keep believing, you take every new experience in football and share it with the boys and we're all positive.

"You change your thinking straight back on to club football. We're fully focused on the game and making it four wins from four."

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Rangers' John Souttar, Derek Cornelius and Mikey Moore could be out for the rest of the year with muscle injuries.

Youngster Bailey Rice has undergone surgery, while Youssef Chermiti and Liam Kelly are doubts.

Findlay Curtis is back after a small injury. Rabbi Matondo (knee), Dujon Sterling (Achilles) and Kieran Dowell (foot) are closing in on comebacks.

Livingston are without Joshua Brenet following his World Cup exploits with Curacao.

Connor McLennan and Scott Pittman are both back in contention, while Ryan McGowan, Cammy Kerr (ankle) and Adam Montgomery (calf) are also edging closer to a return. Aidan Denholm and Shane Blaney (both hamstring) are still out.

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Danny Rohl is "very happy" to have set-piece coach Scott Fry join his coaching staff at Rangers and is hoping he can inspire players who "don't like" to work on that aspect of their game.

Fry joined from Lincoln City this week having helped the League One outfit score 30 goals from set-pieces last term, the most of any team in the English third tier.

Having worked with dedicated set-piece coaches at Sheffield Wednesday and the Germany national team, Rohl was keen to do the same at Ibrox.

"I had good experience at Sheffield Wednesday with the set-piece coach, I had a good experience in the national team," he said.

"For us it was very clear when I arrived here how our set-up for the coaching team should be. I think for set-pieces you need a specialist.

"Scott has a lot of passion for this part of the game. This is crucial because sometimes I notice the players don't like to train too much on this part. But in the end it's about 30% of goals are from set-pieces."

Rohl suggested his coaching set-up is not yet complete and is eyeing an ex-Rangers player to add to the staff.

"I'm always a coach to have different profiles in my coaching team," the German added.

"At the moment I'm very happy with my set-up.

"When I arrived I spoke about having a former player in my coaching stuff. But I must say, Stevie [Smith] stepped really up in this role from the academy.

"The good thing is with him, he knows the academy well. He knows the players. It gives us a good link to the academy and how he acts in the group at the moment is fantastic.

"It's also the reason why I'm very convinced that we should go with this set-up. It means not that the door is closed for someone else, this is still part of our job.

"We are looking at the market and for what makes sense. But at the moment we have great profiles in my coaching group and I enjoy the work with my staff."

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Danny Rohl has been speaking to the media before Rangers return to Premiership action against Livingston this weekend.

Here are the key points from the Ibrox boss:

• John Souttar, Mikey Moore and Derek Cornelius have muscle injuries and will miss Saturday's match. Souttar and Moore are unlikely to play again in 2025, while Cornelius needs to see a specialist about his injury.

• Youssef Chermiti and Liam Kelly are both unlikely to feature against Livingston having returned from international duty with knocks. Bailey Rice has undergone surgery.

• In better news, Dujon Sterling - who has been out since April with an Achilles injury - is close to a first-team return.

• Injuries mean other players have to "step up" and Rohl had "good conversations" with those who were not away on international duty.

• On the appointment of set-piece coach Scott Fry: "It's a fantastic decision for the club and an easy process. I am delighted to have him here."

• Rohl says it's crucial to build on good league form and close the gap at the top of the table.

• The international break has allowed time to focus on areas where Rangers need to improve.

• Rohl adds: "We are improving, but it's all about winning games. I really enjoy work, the city, the fans, and I hope we have a long future together."

• He and his staff watched the Scotland game together on Tuesday night and he is happy to be coaching in a country with such passion for football.

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Former Rangers striker Kemar Roofe has revealed the strong influence Steven Gerrard had in convincing him to join the club.

Together, the pair helped won Rangers win their 55th title, going unbeaten in the 2020-21 league campaign to ruin Celtic's bid for 10 in a row.

The current Walsall forward joined Rangers from Belgian side Anderlecht back in 2020, where he formerly played under current Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany.

"I spoke with Steven Gerrard on the phone and made up my mind then," Roofe, 32, told the BBC's Sacked in the Morning Podcast.

"It was the same moving to Anderlecht, when these sorts of players I've grown up watching and I've got so much respect for, Vincent Kompany, Steven Gerrard.

"When they're calling you and they're saying they want you, it feels special. And it's like, you can't turn this down cause of the respect that you have for these people.

"So as soon as he said I want you to come in, be my number nine, and we need to win this league, I said, 'Okay, let's do this.'

"Unfortunately when I signed it was Covid season. So there was no fans allowed.

"It was disappointing. But you turn up to the training ground, you've got the big Rangers gates at the training ground. It's impressive.

"You go to the stadium, very impressive. Huge. And you just know this is a proper football club. This is serious. And then we was able to have a fantastic season and be unbeaten and and win the league."

In the league-winning season Roofe scored 14 Premiership goals - 18 overall - and is proud of his contribution to what remain's the club's last title.

"Without sounding arrogant or whatever, I genuinely feel I was able to contribute a lot," he added.

"I had a different playing style to anyone else in the squad and team. And I spoke to Gerrard when I left Rangers and he said I was a massive part.

"It was an achievement to do that [winning the title]. The fans definitely made it clear how important it was to them to win the 55."

Rangers have started negotiations with Kazakhstan winger Galymzhan Kenzhebek, whose contract with Yelimay Semey ends next month, but clubs from eight countries are interested in the 22-year-old and the only concrete offer has come from Dundee United. (AS News), external

Reports from Kazakhstan linking Rangers with Yelimay Semey winger Galymzhan Kenzhebek are wide of the mark. (Daily Record), external

Former Rangers head coach Russell Martin is "open" to a return to Swansea City but has not been approached by the Championship club, who are seeking a replacement for Alan Sheehan. (Wales Online), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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Rangers have a new set-piece coach - but why do they need one and what will he bring?

Many aspects of modern football are met with eye-rolls from fans and pundits. Perhaps the idea of having a designated coach for set-plays is one of them.

But with margins becoming ever finer and the prominence of data in today's game, clubs are always looking to improve in every detail.

Set-pieces have taken a grip of the game again south of the border, with Premier League leaders Arsenal in particular benefiting from huge success.

It is from England where Rangers plucked Scott Fry, who left third-tier Lincoln City to make the move to Danny Rohl's Rangers set-up.

Jez George, the League One side's director of football, hailed Fry's influence at the club, highlighting his use of AI to improve their set-plays, which resulted in "outstanding outcomes".

Lincoln finished in the top half of League One last term, scoring 64 goals. A league-high 30 of them came from set-plays, meaning 47% of their goals came from set-piece situations.

Meanwhile, only four clubs in the 24-team division conceded fewer goals from set-plays.

This season, their set-piece record stands at five scored and four conceded from overall goals for and against tallies of 20 and 15 respectively.

Rangers, therefore, clearly believe Fry can improve their output from dead-ball situations.

The Ibrox side's expected goals (xG) rating from set-pieces this term is the seventh best in the league, yet they have managed four goals from corners - only Hearts have more - and six goals in total from set-pieces, which is joint fourth highest.

Rangers have created the second-most chances (22) in the Premiership from set-plays, but rank fourth lowest in shots (7) from such situations.

At the other end, their four goals conceded from set-pieces is the joint lowest along with Hibs.

Following Fry's arrival, how those underlying numbers adjust over the campaign is certainly something to look out for.

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• Rangers have never lost in 25 home games against Livingston in all competitions (W22 D3); it's the most they have faced a side at home without ever losing.

• Livingston have lost 20 of their past 22 meetings with Rangers in all competitions (D2) since a 1-0 league victory in September 2018.

• Rangers are unbeaten in 30 Scottish Premiership games against newly-promoted opponents (W26 D4), although their last defeat was to Livingston in September 2018 (1-0). At home, the Ibrox side have won 13 of their past 15 league games against promoted sides (D2) since a 2-1 defeat to Hibernian in February 2018.

• Rangers boss Danny Rohl has won his first three Premiership matches in charge. Of Rangers' past four permanent managers, (Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Michael Beale, Philippe Clement and Russell Martin) only Rohl's predecessor Martin failed to win all of his first four league matches.

• Livingston have won just one of their 12 league matches this season (D5 L6), the fewest of any team in the top flight and their second-fewest victories at this stage of a top-flight season in their history, ahead of only 2005-06 (0).

Rangers head coach Danny Rohl says he has brought in set-piece specialist Scott Fry from Lincoln City because of the amount of goals that are scored in modern football from dead ball situations. (The National), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.