Rangers manager Derek McInnes is set to lead his side as they host Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership at Ibrox this Saturday, 3pm kick-off, aiming to extend their impressive winning streak and potentially claim the top spot in the league. Following five successive victories, including a crucial 1-0 win over Glasgow rivals Celtic, McInnes’ men are currently within two points of the league leaders, with a victory potentially moving them temporarily to the summit as Celtic play 24 hours later.
Rangers’ Strong Form and Title Aspirations
Rangers enter the fixture on a formidable run, having secured five consecutive wins in the Scottish Premiership, including back-to-back victories against Celtic before the international break. The team’s positive momentum is further boosted by the return of several players from international duty, including Ryan Naderi, Kim Min-su, and Kevin Kelsy, who reportedly performed well for their respective countries, as detailed by Last Word On Sports. This period of strong form for Rangers contrasts with Celtic, who have reportedly lost three consecutive matches.
Kilmarnock’s Battle for Points
Conversely, Kilmarnock arrive at Ibrox desperate for points, currently sitting bottom of the Scottish Premiership table. They have conceded 15 goals, more than any other side in the division. Despite their difficult start, Neil McCann’s side has shown recent signs of resilience, securing draws against Hearts and Aberdeen, and achieving their first league win of the season with a 1-0 victory over Hibs a little over three weeks ago.
Injury Updates and Team News
Derek McInnes will navigate the Kilmarnock match with some key players sidelined. According to The Scotsman, Rangers will be without an unnamed Japanese winger, who has a groin injury, and the Rangers captain (unnamed), who is out with a hamstring injury that could see him miss action until the new year. For the visitors, an on-loan Rangers youngster will be ineligible to play against his parent club. On a more positive note for Rangers, Belgian left-back Tuur Rommens, who suffered a groin injury in August, is in line to return to the squad.
Referee MacDermid Under Scrutiny
The officiating team for Saturday’s match will be led by referee MacDermid, an official whose decision-making has drawn criticism from various quarters in Scottish football. McInnes, who will be hoping his team doesn’t have to rely on officials, has previously been critical of referee MacDermid. According to Last Word On Sports, McInnes made comments about the official following a past match between Kilmarnock and St Mirren, stating via The Daily Record: “I thought it was a real low for the refereeing department that performance.” He added, “If the officials do their job right then we probably win that game. There’s no two ways about it for me. We felt really let down on some of the decisions.”
MacDermid has been involved in several controversial incidents this season, including a VAR decision in a 2-1 defeat to Hibernian in August and a missed push by Kevin Nisbet on Dujon Sterling at Pittodrie. Rangers have a record of 10 wins, two draws, and two defeats in matches officiated by MacDermid.
Supercomputer Predicts Rangers Victory
Ahead of the clash, Football MD’s Supercomputer has crunched the numbers, heavily favouring a Rangers win. As reported by Rangers News, the supercomputer predicts a 76 per cent chance of Rangers beating Kilmarnock at Ibrox. A draw is given a 15 per cent chance, while Kilmarnock securing the three points is rated at just nine per cent. Kilmarnock are expected to adopt a defensive approach to make things challenging for the hosts.
FAQ
- Who is Derek McInnes’ team playing this weekend?
Derek McInnes’ Rangers side is hosting Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday. - What is the Supercomputer’s prediction for the match?
Football MD’s Supercomputer predicts a 76 per cent chance of Rangers winning against Kilmarnock, with a 15% chance of a draw and 9% for a Kilmarnock victory. - Are there any significant injuries for Rangers?
Yes, a Japanese winger is out with a groin injury, and the Rangers captain is missing due to a hamstring injury that could last until the new year. However, Belgian left-back Tuur Rommens is expected to return. - Why is the referee MacDermid a talking point for Derek McInnes?
MacDermid has faced past criticism from McInnes regarding inconsistent decision-making, with McInnes previously stating his team felt “really let down” by the official’s performance in a past match.