Rangers

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• Rangers have won 22 of their last 24 league meetings with St Mirren (D2), including each of their last six in a row. Their last league defeat to the Buddies came in December 2011 (2-1).

• In all competitions, St Mirren have lost 22 of their last 24 away games at Rangers (D2) since a 1-0 victory in November 1991 under David Hay. They have lost their last 13 such trips in a row, failing to score in 10 of their last 11.

• Rangers have won 17 of their last 19 home league games (D1 L1), including each of their last six in a row. Indeed, of their 16 points in the Scottish Premiership this season, 12 have come at Ibrox (75%).

• St Mirren have lost each of their last three league games, last losing four in a row in April 2022.

• Although only Celtic (20.1) have a higher expected goals total in the Scottish Premiership this season than Rangers (13.8), Philippe Clement's side have underperformed their xG the most of any side in the division this term (-1.8, scoring 12 goals from 13.8 xG).

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Rangers attackers Tom Lawrence (knee) and Cyriel Dessers (eye) will be assessed after picking up injuries in midweek.

Ianis Hagi serves the second of a two-game ban while Oscar Cortes and Rabbi Matondo remain out.

Conor McMenamin is back in contention for St Mirren after recovering from a knee injury. Dennis Adeniran is struggling with illness.

Richard Taylor remains out after hernia surgery and Alex Iacovitti (tendon) is out long term.

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Philippe Clement insists victory is the only priority for Rangers just now – despite his side racking up four goals in midweek.

A Vaclav Cerny double was book-ended by Tom Lawrence’s opener and a first goal for Moroccan striker Hamza Igamane as Rangers bounced back from their 1-0 loss to Kilmarnock last weekend to defeat Romanian side FCSB in the Europa League.

But Clement says his focus is just on recording wins with Rangers, regardless of how many goals are scored.

“All respect to St Mirren. It’s about winning the games,” he said.

“If we can make it big wins, we will go full for that. But we know it will be a hard game again, to break open the wall and not concede on the transitions and on the set-pieces.

“So it’s going to be a challenging game after a big European night. It’s about recovering well. And in that way my young team also still need to learn how to control their energy in the right moments.”

Despite that, Clement was pleased to see Cerny take his total to five since joining on loan from Wolfsburg.

“I told him that also, that he has all my confidence because he’s not only a really good player, but also somebody who’s working really hard for the team,” Clement said.

“It was really a quality goal with his lesser good foot, to curl the ball in like that. So I want to see more and more of that in the next weeks and the next months.”

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Rangers midfielder Tom Lawrence and striker Cyriel Dessers will be assessed after picking up injuries in midweek.

Midfielder Ianis Hagi serves the second of a two-game ban, while wingers Oscar Cortes and Rabbi Matondo remain out.

Forward Conor McMenamin is back in contention for St Mirren after recovering from a knee injury, but midfielder Dennis Adeniran is struggling with illness.

Richard Taylor is still recovering after hernia surgery and Alex Iacovitti is out long term.

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Rangers forward Nedim Bajrami says the Europa League dismantling of FCSB proved the players "are all behind" manager Philippe Clement.

The Albania international acknowledged he and his team-mates had to react well to the disappointing defeat at Kilmarnock on Sunday and felt they rose to the occasion with a 4-0 victory, their biggest European win in 17 years.

"This has to be the standard," he told BBC Scotland. "We have a lot of games now and every player has to be ready. We have to play at a higher and higher level and try to win every game.

"When you lose, everyone speaks badly about you. When you win, everyone speaks well about you. Sometimes we don't need to read the newspapers. We showed a big reaction. This was important for us, for the coach and for the fans.

"We know our quality and the quality of the coach. We are all behind him and we showed again that we're a great club with a good mixture of young and older players and we have to keep going like this."

With criticism growing among the fanbase after a 4-1 mauling at home to Lyon, followed by further points being dropped in the league at Rugby Park, Bajrami fully accepted there can be no hiding place for the players when times are tough.

"It was very important for us to show the fans that we knew what we had to do and we'll show it again on Sunday [against St Mirren]," he added.

"We showed a big reaction. Lots of pressing, aggression, winning duels. No matter who scored today it was important we showed that reaction."

We asked for your views on Rangers' 4-0 win against FCSB in the Europa League.

Here's what some of you said:

Sandy: Good result and great to see a performance. James Tavernier is still a weak link and Cyriel Dessers is out of sorts. When will Philippe Clement give other players a chance?

Gareth: One swallow doesn't make a summer! Let's see how the team moves forward from here. Still elements of poor play from Dessers and Tavernier which need to be eradicated. Two up front is a must.

Peter: Got an early scare from whatever Jack Butland was trying to do. That said, we had a pretty decent response from the team, a few stood up to put in a good shift, maybe not the toughest of opposition but four good goals. We always hope that we can kick on after these games and not huff and puff as we tend to do, two big games coming up that need maximum effort.

Sally: Better performance against a poor team. Man of the match Connor Barron and Nicolas Raskin were superb. Dessers needs someone alongside him as often his hard work is unrewarded. Butland was lucky, and sometimes just clearing the ball stops stupid defensive errors.

Ronnie: A mixture of satisfaction and anger. Rangers looked like a real team and on the front foot throughout. However, this was more or less the same players who were so woeful against Kilmarnock in a game every bit as important. Valcav Cerny, Barron and Raskin were superb. One negative was Dessers looked totally lost. He should be dropped.

Brian: It's been 17 years for a score like that, what a difference from the team that played Kilmarnock, a more set up attacking unit, strong in defence and midfield run the show. Again, Barron a young (Barry Ferguson) showed he is Rangers class, but another disappointing show from our main striker. Is he the man for this position? I doubt it.

Bob: I would like all the people shouting for the manager's head to now be quiet. Nobody plays well on plastic pitches like Rugby Park. Great result against FCSB back playing on a grass surface, now get behind the team.

Robert: A much better performance from Rangers. Midfield was the key with much more aggression and control. Leon Balogun provides more stability in defence. The only downside was once again up front with a really poor performance from Dessers who was too slow and laboured. Really need to sign a proper goalscorer in the next transfer window.

Paul: Emphatic and clinical result on the night, but fundamentally, FCSB are small fry on the European scene, and Rangers easily cast them aside as one would expect. Sterner challenges await the Ibrox men in the coming months ahead.

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Rangers' two-goal hero Vaclav Cerny hopes the 4-0 Europa League win over FCSB will repair some of the damage done to the team's relationship with the fans.

The Ibrox side's form struggles have caused unrest among the support, with banners against mismanagement of the club being displayed in defeat at Rugby Park last Sunday.

"It was very, very important to get a performance like that and it gives you the belief we can do that and that we're able to produce like that on the pitch," Cerny told BBC Scotland.

"Hopefully that will put us together again with the fans and give them what they deserve.

"It's a big win. We played good football as well, we were dominant with the pressing. Four nice goals, a clean sheet. That's exactly what we needed. It just shows we're able to put a game like this together.

"Now the goal must be to do it every three days. That's what we want. We needed a win like this and now we want to build on this."

After being spoken to by manager Philippe Clement on the touchline for reacting to fan frustration during the recent win over Hibs, Czech winger Cerny has contributed four goals in his last three appearances at Ibrox, including a well-taken double against FCSB.

"I'm satisfied with my performance and goals but the victory comes first, the clean sheet comes first and I mean that," he added.

"Two great goals but in the end that's my job and I'm so happy I could do that again."

The new Europa League format is also growing on the former Wolfsburg and Ajax player, who wasn't sure what to expect from it.

"I was a bit sceptical about the concept but everything is open now," he said.

"There are many games to play, we have five left. Six points from three games and we managed to level off the goal difference after the last game [against Lyon] so let's build on this."

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• This was the first time Rangers have won a major European match by four goals since beating Hapoel Tel Aviv 4-0 in the Uefa Cup in February 2007.

• FCSB have now lost each of their last eight matches against UK opposition (including qualifiers) by a combined scoreline of 24-2, conceding three or more goals in six of those eight matches.

• Vaclav Cerny became only the second Rangers player to have a hand in three or more goals in a single Europa League match (two goals, one assist) and the first since Alfredo Morelos (v Royal Antwerp) in February 2021.

• Rangers attempted 15 shots in the first half, which is the most they have ever managed in the opening 45 minutes of a Europa League match.

• James Tavernier made his 54th appearance in major European competition for Rangers, moving level with Steven Davis. Only Allan McGregor (78), John Greig (62) and Barry Ferguson (60) have made more.

• After netting one goal across his first six European matches for Rangers, Tom Lawrence has now scored in back-to-back games (v FCSB and Lyon). All three of those goals have come in the opening 15 minutes of matches.

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FCSB boss Elias Charamboulous says he received an apology from the referee following the disallowed goal in his side's 4-0 loss to Rangers, with the ball hitting the hosts' net very early in the match but goalkeeper Jack Butland given the foul for David Miculescu's challenge. (Sun), external

Opening goal scorer Tom Lawrence picked up "a bad knock", in Rangers' win, revealed manager Philippe Clement. (Herald - subscription), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip

Were you at Ibrox or following the match elsewhere?

Either way, we want your views on the game - have your say here, external.

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Rangers manager Phillippe Clement told TNT Sports: "My players made a very good reaction after the disappointment from the weekend.

"I think this is what I have been saying, this is a squad with a lot of potential for the future. It is still a work in progress, I saw a lot of things we can do tonight.

"We were also frustrated at the weekend. Everybody, every day, gives their ultimate best. It is a pity there were several guys not at their best at the weekend. The (Rugby Park) surface was not the best, but I do not want to use that as an excuse.

"I've known the qualities of Nico (Raskin) for a long time. He was long-term injured last season. It's about working hard and being ready to have an impact on the game.

"(Cyriel Dessers) apologised for (walking down the tunnel). He was so emotional. He was hungry to score and play good for the team.

"He got a knock on his eye, he lost eyesight. He could not see anything. He was emotional in that moment because he did not want to come off."

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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Midfielder Nico Raskin and defender Leon Balogun returned to the Rangers side at the expense of Mohamed Diomande and Robin Propper, who struggled at Rugby Park on Sunday.

The double switch proved to be a shrewd call as the intensity of Raskin, who ex-Rangers winger Neil McCann described as a "man possessed" on BBC Sportsound, was integral to the home side's full-throttle start.

It is perhaps a concern that 36-year-old Balogun is arguably Philippe Clement's most accomplished centre-back, but the Nigerian was an assured presence in the hosts' backline before he was brought off in the second period.

Meanwhile, a lack of consistency from Vaclav Cerny has been a source of criticism, but the winger's performance highlighted again that he is capable of lighting up games.

Hamza Igamane, who registered seven more touches than Cyriel Dessers despite replacing the striker in the 57th minute, showed he can be a valuable attacking option if he can get some rhythm.

There are tougher European tests to come for Rangers in their remaining five league phase games, but six points from three matches gives them a decent foundation to build on.

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FCSB will not pose as much as a threat to Rangers as Malmo did, but fans should brace themselves for a potential game of "hoofball" in the Europa League on Thursday, according to coach and analyst John Walker.

Philippe Clement's side won 2-0 away in Sweden in September, but lost to Kilmarnock in their last outing and consequently go into their European clash against the Romanian champions under a cloud.

"This could be a game of hoofball," Walker told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast. "It could be Rugby Park part two, both teams going pretty direct. I think Malmo are a better all-round team than FCSB."

Walker also highlighted the influence of Romania internationals Darius Olaru and Florinel Coman on FCSB's title win last season, neither of whom will line up against Rangers at Ibrox.

Coman now plays for Al-Gharafa in Qatar, while fellow winger Olaru is suspended having been sent off in the win over PAOK.

"They were a very attacking side last season, quite direct but once they are in the final third they are a real threat," Walkeradded.

"Their wingers last year - Olaru and Coman - contributed 78% of their goals, so very dependent on their wide men.

"The benefit for Rangers is Coman got sold in the summer and Olaru got sent off in the last game. Both players who contributed most of the goals in their title win last year are not playing at Ibrox."

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Rangers midfielder Tom Lawrence admits "it hurts a lot" to see supporters angry with the team but accepts the players must shoulder their share of the blame.

The Welshman feels the Europa League hosting of FCSB is therefore "massive" as he and his team-mates aim to get disgruntled fans back onside.

"We need to put on a performance in front of the fans," he said.

"Every game is now a massive game. We're coming in off the back of a difficult result and we need to put that right.

"Recent results might heighten [pressure on the manager] but we all just need to stick together.

"I would be lying if I said we're in a happy place. We're all disappointed and frustrated with way we played at Kilmarnock."

Lawrence is in no doubt that a big European win could go a long way in restoring some trust from the supporters following Sunday's loss at Rugby Park.

"I hope the fans get right behind us and I hope it's a turning point," he adds. "This shouldn't just be on the manager, we as players need to step up."

When quizzed whether Rangers have become too boring and predictable, Lawrence was straightforward in his reply.

"That's fair for Sunday, but not for previous games," he said.

"We have to earn the right again with the fans. It hurts a lot. So we're looking forward to this game to try to put things right."

The four-year deal Philippe Clement was given just 12 weeks ago is the key reason the Belgian will be given more time as Rangers manager. (Daily Record)

Tom Lawrence says Rangers players were just as annoyed in the Rugby Park changing room as their supporters were in the stands after defeat at Kilmarnock. (Daily Record)

Ex-striker Kris Boyd says rudderless Rangers are the only business in Britain operating with no chief executive, an interim chairman and having also just lost their head of football operations. (Daily Record)

Boyd says fans are "not interested in seeing players coming up to the 18-yard box, clapping them and saying sorry" as Rangers players did after the defeat at Rugby Park. (The Herald)

Ally McCoist has told how he learnt of the passing of Scotland and Rangers legend Walter Smith while doing a live TalkSport radio show. (Scottish Sun)

Read the rest of Thursday's gossip.

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Rangers manager Philippe Clement says he's no "Harry Potter" but is calling for calm and patience amid a period of pressure.

The Belgian said he is "200% confident" his side are on the right track despite being six points behind Celtic and Aberdeen in the Premiership.

The Ibrox club failed to close the gap on the top two on Sunday when they slumped to a poor defeat at Kilmarnock.

The loss has intensified the scrutiny Clement and his players are facing, while there have also been concerns from the fans about a lack of identity in playing style.

Clement added there's an understanding at board level that he should be given time to implement the "big rebuild" required at the club.

The manager signed a new contract in August, extending his deal to 2028, and he insists the board agreed to give him the time to implement the changes required.

"That was the whole idea about the contract," he said. "From the board and also from me to show I would not leave if something else came along the way.

"Anyone who has worked in football knows that to make this (size of) rebuild, cutting wages and making the club sustainable... it takes time.

"You cannot do it in one, two, three months. That's impossible."

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• Rangers are unbeaten in three previous home meetings with FCSB in European competition (W2 D1), most recently drawing 1-1 at Ibrox in the 1995-96 Champions League group stage.

• FCSB have only lost one of their last four games against Rangers in all competitions (W2 D1) while they have won their last two such meetings with Scottish sides, beating Motherwell twice in qualifying for the 2009-10 Europa League.

• Including qualifiers, Rangers have lost their last three home European matches – they've never lost four in a row at Ibrox.

• Despite facing the sixth highest number of shots in the Europa League this season (38), FCSB have conceded just one goal so far.

• Rangers started their Europa League campaign with a 2-0 win in Malmo, but Saturday's Premiership defeat in Kilmarnock means they have lost three of their last eight outings, including a 4-1 home loss to Lyon.

• FCSB have won five consecutive games, including against RFS and PAOK in the Europa League, and are unbeaten in 10 outings.

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Rangers manager Philippe Clement has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Europa League match at home to Romania's FCSB.

Here are the key points from the Belgian's news conference.

• Clement says there’s a reason FCSB have "six points out of six" in the Europa League so far and that Rangers will need to be as good as they were in Malmo if they want to win.

• The manager is "200%" confident the team is on the right track, despite the weekend loss at Kilmarnock.

• He understands supporter anger at the result and performance at Rugby Park, adding he did not buy into the "hype" around him when things were going well last season and so will not panic when times are more challenging.

• Clement indicated there’s an understanding at board level that he should be given time to affect the "big rebuild" that’s necessary and that there are no quick fixes here, elsewhere in Europe or indeed in football globally, adding: "The fans will see that we’ll be better."

• He’s working at trying to create a culture that breeds more "leaders" and accepts that’s something the current squad lacks, while also admitting Rangers are "not creating enough chances".

• Team news: Forward Zak Lovelace is in the squad and will be on the bench but the game comes too soon for left-back Ridvan Yilmaz.

Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

Rangers' abject performance in Sunday's defeat by Kilmarnock caught few people by surprise.

Given the opportunity to narrow the gap on the top two, Philippe Clement's side should have come out all guns blazing to show they were genuine title challengers.

Instead what the travelling supporters saw was another half-hearted, uninspired display, lacking any clear structure or gameplan, leaving them well adrift of Celtic and Aberdeen.

That Rangers find themselves third in the table is no early-season quirk. They are the third-best team in the league right now.

The Aberdeen side I saw at Celtic Park on Saturday, put together at a fraction of the cost, looked better by just about every measure of a good football team - and there will have to be a marked improvement in Rangers between now and next midweek if they are to take anything from their trip to Pittodrie.

Before that, Rangers must first negotiate their next Europa League match against FCSB, the former superpower of Steaua Bucharest.

On the face of it, it appears they have suffered a similar fall from grace as their hosts, sitting fifth in the Romanian league, so it is absolutely key to Rangers' ambitions of progressing in Europe that they beat the Romanians before turning their attentions to St Mirren at the weekend.

The worrying thing for Rangers fans - there are a few actually - is the lack of improvement in the team since the start of the season or, you could argue, since Clement took over. Are Rangers really any better than they were when the Belgian took charge a year ago?

Which players are playing better currently than they were under Michael Beale?

Not James Tavernier. John Souttar has been excellent but should have done much better for Kilmarnock's goal. Nicolas Raskin has regressed, Mohamed Diomande isn't having the influence he had on games when he first came in in January, Cyriel Dessers continues to frustrate.

Clement asked for time for this team to gel, to be judged once the new players had integrated a few months down the line. So here we are. He says there is more potential in this group than is obvious right now.

If he wants to avoid the same fate as Beale and Giovanni van Bronckhorst before him, it is his job to nurture that potential and start to turn his vision for Rangers into something the supporters can get behind before it's too late.