Rangers

We asked for your views on Rangers' 1-0 Premiership win at home to Dundee.

Here's what some of you said:

Gerry: After two uplifting performances it was back down to earth with a bang. We just can't seem to put teams to the sword that come to Ibrox and sit back. We had enough chances, is it anxiety that creeps in playing teams we should beat comfortably at home?

Ronnie: A frustrating 90 minutes but the right result. Why do we struggle to put games to bed against mediocre teams? We dominated throughout yet could have shipped two points at the death. Hamza Igamane was largely ineffectual and despite the noise around him, he has a lot to improve in his game. Good to see James Tavernier once again have a strong 90 minutes.

Finlay: The second-half performance was nowhere close to what the past two games and the first half have been. We can now celebrate being second in the table, which over the past few games we have shown we deserve. I'm not saying any criticism about the team. The problem was the crossbar was our enemy.

Peter: Another impressive performance, good flowing football, any other day the ones that hit the woodwork would have went in.

Chris: I feel like it was three steps backwards again, I can't get my head around why we are so bad in the league. We need to start blowing teams away at Ibrox again to reinstate the fear factor. Finishing mediocre teams off like Dundee should be easy, but something's not quite working yet.

Robert: Competent display, the result was never in doubt, the woodwork will need repainted, we still require to be more clinical in front of goal.

Image source, SNS

• Vaclav Cerny has scored seven goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other Rangers player.

• Dundee have a record of W0, D1, L4 when conceding the opening goal away from home in the Premiership this season.

• Rangers have scored in each of their last eight games in the Premiership, scoring 16 goals in that run.

Rangers are weighing up a move for Standard Liege midfielder Isaac Price, with a mystery English Championship club also doing their homework on the Northern Ireland international. (Walfoot via Daily Record, external)

Rangers midfielder Ianis Hagi is wanted by Serie A side Genoa, recently taken over by Romanian businessman Dan Sucu. (Gazzetto dello Sport, external - in Italian)

Jack Butland made a dramatic exit from Ibrox minutes before Rangers were due to kick off against Dundee yesterday, with the goalkeeper later posting a social media image of himself cradling a new born baby. (Scottish Sun), external

Read the rest of Sunday's Scottish gossip.

Image source, Getty Images

Vaclav Cerny's 10th goal of the season gave Rangers victory over Dundee and moved them up to second in the Scottish Premiership for the first time this season.

After being frustrated in the first half, Rangers struck one minute after the break when Danilo played in Cerny, who ran through and scored after neatly rounding goalkeeper Trevor Carson.

It should have been more, too, as Rangers cracked the crossbar four times.

Let us know your thoughts on Rangers' performance.

Image source, SNS

Rangers manager Philippe Clement: "We had good chances but you need the second goal to kill the belief of the opponent, that's what we missed today. We had enough opportunities to score the second or third goal.

"Sometimes you need luck, but he important thing is the three points and it was well deserved. Liam Kelly didn't really have to make a save so defensively we did a good job.

"We always want to give our fans more than 1-0. We want to score three, four. We didn't succeed today - the crossbar didn't help today but we need to keep the momentum going.

"People don't need to worry about Jack Butland, he missed out for personal reasons and it was very short term. He will be back for the next game."

Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Cerny, despite frustrating at times in his early Rangers career, continues to be the man who comes up with big moments.

And while this game should not just have come down to his goal, it proves he remains the one with the most poise and composure in the final third.

He is an elegant player to watch as he bobs and weaves away from defenders, and he did so efficiently to leave Carson flailing at his feet for the goal.

Four wins in a row in the league is Rangers' best run of the season and they have leapfrogged a struggling Aberdeen into second.

Hagi continues to impress and bring an extra dimension to Rangers' attack, while Igamane is raw but coming on strong.

However, their lack of ruthlessness left them open to a sucker punch at the end and Dundee nearly provided it.

The short-term task is to win every game up until the Old Firm derby at Ibrox on 2 January when they have a chance to lay a glove on Celtic.

Phillipe Clement has confirmed centre-back John Souttar will be missing for "several weeks" after limping off against Tottenham in the Europa League draw.

Dujon Sterling partners Robin Propper at Ibrox for the visit of Dundee, with Leon Balogun dropping to the bench.

Image source, SNS

Nedim Bajrami insists "mentally strong" Rangers are ready to move on from their League Cup final anguish when they welcome Dundee to Ibrox on Saturday in Premiership action.

Albania midfielder Bajrami opened the scoring in the epic 3-3 Hampden draw with Celtic before Rangers lost 5-4 on penalties after being incorrectly denied a penalty.

"We know everyone was disappointed and I think everyone saw that was a clear penalty," said Bajrami.

"We had a meeting about that, but this is gone now. We're looking forward to tomorrow and we are back to the league.

"We did a great job the last couple of weeks and everyone, every player is growing up and we have to keep going like that.

"We are a strong team. We are mentally strong, so we are looking forward game by game and this is gone now.

"I've played a lot of games in big stadiums, but I think this one [the cup final] was one of my biggest that I played, Celtic v Rangers.

"It was a nice experience. I was happy to score at my first derby but disappointed that we didn't win."

Image source, SNS

Rangers boss Philippe Clement has no fresh injury concerns. John Souttar and Neraysho Kasanwirjo (knee) remain sidelined while Tom Lawrence is working his way back to fitness.

Dundee attacker Oluwaseun Adewumi is a doubt with an injury he sustained in the last match against Hearts while Ziyad Larkeche (hamstring), Scott Fraser (groin), Joe Shaughnessy (knee) and Clark Robertson (thigh) remain out.

Image source, SNS

Philippe Clement says "things are going in the right direction" at Rangers and claimed James Tavernier is in the best form of his time in charge.

Despite their agonising defeat to Celtic on penalties in last weekend's League Cup final, Clement believes his new signings, and more established players, are making solid progress after a disappointing start to the season.

"You see that the team is growing, you see it in everything," Clement said.

"The team are gelling together, we're getting more players available which is also a massive thing when playing every three days.

"So a lot of things are going in the right direction.

"I've been speaking about potential of players for a while and people need time to adapt to a club, a new way of playing and training.

"It's a good thing that fans start to see why I bought people they had doubts about. I'll use the example of Hamza [Igamane], why take a young boy out of Morocco who didn't have experience in Europe? People start to see why.

"It's not only the new guys and the young guys, the last weeks I've seen James Tavernier playing really well, probably the best I've seen him in our time together.

"So it's all team making steps and that's the road we need to continue on."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Rangers manager Philippe Clement has been speaking to the media before the Premiership match at home to Dundee on Saturday.

Here are the key points:

• Clement conceded that in the aftermath of Sunday's League Cup final defeat it "hurt really a lot for everybody in the club" because they felt "the rules of the game are not followed" and that this one was not a grey area decision.

• The Belgian welcomed the transparency shown by Scottish FA referees chief Willie Collum, who has admitted it was "unacceptable" that Rangers were not awarded a penalty for Liam Scales' foul on Vaclav Cerny.

• "We appreciate the honesty for sure," Clement said. "It doesn't help in the end but everybody in the club hopes he [Collum] is not alone in his fight to gets standards better."

• Clement said it was a pity all the focus has been on the penalty controversy given the intensity of the final with two good teams playing a good game and that he wants improvements for all of Scottish football, not just Rangers.

• He urged his players to look forward and "stop thinking about it" with an important three points available against Dundee, adding "you see a really big evolution the last couple of months".

• Oscar Cortes is available but will not start. There are no new injury worries and although there had been a flu bug around the building, Clement doesn't expect that to have an impact on selection.

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

It is not often you can say that two high-profile games without a victory have eased pressure on a football manager, but that is where Philippe Clement is at with Rangers.

There was speculation a few weeks ago that winning Sunday's League Cup final was a must for the Belgian given it would coincide with the official arrival of new chief executive Patrick Stewart.

Instead, Clement's side have earned plaudits as last week's Europa League draw with Tottenham was followed by a similarly heartening display in losing to Celtic on penalties at Hampden.

Any defeat by their bitter city rivals would normally be greeted with intense internal scrutiny, especially since Clement has yet to get the better of Celtic in six attempts and his side remain third behind the reigning champions and Aberdeen in the league table.

However, this time the focus has been more on a penalty wrongly denied by the officials and another saved in the shoot-out.

Statistically, Dundee's arrival ought to present Rangers with an opportunity to get back on the improvement track after their nine-game unbeaten run was ended on Sunday.

While Tony Docherty's side are reasonably placed in seventh, they have only won one of their last 11 away league outings, losing six.

It's not the kind of form on the road you want when visiting a side yet to lose at home domestically this season - and in seven outings overall since Lyon's Europa League visit.

Indeed, Dundee have not beaten Rangers in 14 meetings since a 2-1 success at Dens Park in November 2017 - and have lost on their past 18 visits to Ibrox.

Dundee games have produced the most goals in the Premiership this season and, although Rangers matches have witnessed the least, you imagine Clement's side will be confident of boosting that statistic given they have found the net 31 times in the latest eight meetings between the sides.

Read all the weekend Premiership picks

English clubs West Ham United, Newcastle United, Bournemouth, Brentford and Fulham as well as European sides Lille, Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen are interested in Rangers striker Hamza Igamane, in addition to frontrunners Everton. (Daily Record)

Rangers should not "go down the road of questioning the integrity of officials" after the SFA admitted the Ibrox club should have had a penalty in the League Cup final, says club legend Ally McCoist. (Daily Record)

Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon has suggested SFA referees chief Willie Collum should be in the VAR booth for crucial matches such as cup finals. (Scottish Sun)

McCoist believes Cyriel Dessers should have taken a penalty for Rangers in the League Cup final shootout, but says "it's a bigger man that walks away if he doesn't feel right for it". (Daily Record)

President Mike Mulraney has stressed he is determined for the SFA to maintain a strong working relationship with major "economic driver" Rangers after launching a £50m campaign to upgrade 90 football pitches and 75 dressing rooms across Scotland. (The Herald)

Ibrox legend Barry Ferguson says Rangers' "grit, determination and resilience" really encouraged him when they went behind in the League Cup final. (Daily Record)

Read the rest of Friday's gossip.

Image source, SNS

• Rangers are unbeaten in 14 meetings with Dundee across all competitions (W12 D2) since a 2-1 defeat in November 2017 under Graeme Murty.

• Dundee have lost their last 18 away games against Rangers in all competitions since a 2-0 victory in March 2001 under Ivano Bonetti.

• Rangers have won their last three league games by an aggregate score of 10-0. The Ibrox side last won more successive Scottish Premiership matches without conceding in December 2021 (6).

• Dundee have only won one of their last 11 away league outings (D4 L6), beating Motherwell 1-0 in October.

• Dundee's Scottish Premiership games this season have seen more goals than any other side (56 – 27F 29A), while Rangers' have seen the fewest (36 – 27F 9A).

Image source, SNS

Rangers say the officiating failure in the League Cup final is "hugely disappointing" and "damaging for the credibility of Scottish football more widely".

The Ibrox club have released a statement in response to Scottish FA head of referee operations Willie Collum admitting VAR officials made a ''really, really poor'' and "unacceptable" decision not to award Rangers a penalty against Celtic in Sunday's final.

There was no VAR intervention when Rangers, who lost on penalties after a 3-3 draw, were awarded a free-kick in extra time when Liam Scales was penalised by referee John Beaton for a pull on Vaclav Cerny on the edge of the Celtic box.

Replays showed the infringement continued inside the area.

An Ibrox spokesperson said: "Rangers notes the Scottish FA's admission of an officiating failure following the non-award of a penalty to Rangers in Sunday's Premier Sports Cup final and welcomes the transparency from the Scottish FA.

"However, for such a failure to occur during one of Scotland's showcase matches is not only hugely disappointing for the club and its supporters, but also damaging for the credibility of Scottish football more widely.

"We acknowledge the Scottish FA's determination to use this and other decision-making failures as opportunities to drive improvements in officiating standards.

"As a club, we will continue to engage with the Scottish FA in an attempt to improve officiating standards for the benefit of all clubs in Scotland."

Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

But for what looks like a bad VAR call, Rangers could conceivably have lifted a 29th League Cup on Sunday.

Regardless, they have emerged from two massive games against Spurs and Celtic with their pride intact and should garner a good deal of belief from having gone toe to toe against teams who only a matter of weeks previously would surely have wiped the floor with them.

Philippe Clement and his players deserve much credit for the recent vast improvement in performances, with the Belgian having answered a lot of the criticism that had begun to come his way from pundits and supporters alike.

The key now is to build upon that improvement because as Clement will know all too well, it will only take one more slip-up in the league to provide the doubters with further ammunition.

Most observers, myself included, do not believe there is a way back into the title race for Rangers, but continuing to take maximum points from the three games before the new year meeting with Celtic at Ibrox is still imperative, as is a good showing and, ideally for Clement and Rangers, a win in that one.

With the on-field situation having improved, the appointment of a new chief executive and chairman should begin to restore some off-field stability and ought to allow the club to put in place structures that can allow Rangers to flourish.

They are still a million miles behind Celtic – the obvious benchmark – in that regard, but as Clement and the players showed on Sunday, with the correct approach, they can compete with their better-off rivals.

Ultimately, however, they ended up as losers on the day. The next step, having rid themselves of any inferiority complex, is to become winners again.

Borna Barisic reportedly recommends former club Rangers sign NK Osijek midfielder Marko Soldo, 28. (Mail+), external

Rangers would demand big money before allowing Hamza Igamane to leave in January amid Everton interest so soon after the 21-year-old Moroccan striker has broken into the first team at Ibrox. (TeamTalk), external

Scottish FA head of referees Willie Collum is expected to formally address claims Rangers were wrongly denied a penalty in Sunday's Scottish League Cup final defeat by Celtic when the governing body's monthly VAR Review airs on its YouTube channel on Thursday. (Herald - subscription), external

Glasgow City Council has no concerns about the temporary alcohol licence that has been granted to Rangers before Celtic's 2 January Scottish Premiership visit despite the trouble that occurred in the city over the weekend surrounding the League Cup final between the two clubs at Hampden. (Herald - subscription), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Image source, SNS

Zak Lovelace netted a late winner as Rangers B team edged their Celtic counterparts 3-2 to lift the Glasgow Cup at the City Stadium.

The Ibrox side - featuring first-team players Oscar Cortes and Rabbi Matondo - twice led through Paul Nsio and Cole McKinnon.

Daniel Cummings and Samuel Isiguzo levelled for Celtic before substitute Lovelace struck the 87th-minute winner as penalties loomed.

Everton are monitoring 22-year-old Rangers and Morocco striker Hamza Igamane, with the futures of both Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Beto at the club unclear. (TBR Football), external

Ligue 1 club Saint-Etienne have "strong' interest" in Cyriel Dessers, with the Nigeria striker falling down the Rangers pecking order in recent weeks. (Le Republican Sportif, external - in French)

The Scottish FA have accepted Rangers were denied an extra-time penalty kick in Sunday's Premier Sports Cup final defeat against Celtic. (Scotsman), external

Cup final VAR officials Alan Muir and Frank Connor have not been assigned to Scottish Premiership fixtures this weekend after the penalty fallout at Hampden. (The Herald), external

Read the rest of Wednesday's Scottish gossip.

Image source, SNS