Rangers confirmed starting XI vs St Mirren: 3 changes from agonising cup exit, Rohl drops high-profile signing
Danny Rohl has named his Rangers starting line-up to face St Mirren in their latest Scottish Premiership clash in Paisley
Danny Rohl has named his Rangers starting XI to face managerless St Mirren for their latest Scottish Premiership encounter at the SMiSA Stadium (KO: 12pm).
Following Celtic’s victory over fourth-placed Motherwell on Saturday coupled with league leaders Hearts’ narrow defeat away to Kilmarnock, the Ibrox side know that a victory in Paisley this afternoon will move them within three points of the summit.
It appeared at one stage this weekend the Light Blues had entered into win-or-bust territory following back-to-back disappointing Old Firm results, but the Jambos shock defeat in Ayrshire last night has handed Rohl’s men a crucial lifeline in the title race.
Team news: Three changes, Skov Olsen dropped as skipper returns
Rohl has made THREE changes to his Rangers team from the side that were dumped out of the Scottish Cup at the quarter-final stage by Celtic last Sunday.
Captain James Tavernier returns at right-back in place of Dujon Sterling, while Tochi Chukwuani takes over from the injured Mohamed Diomande in the middle of the park. Hearlded January signing Andreas Skov Olsen is BENCHED following two sub-par displays against Celtic, with Djeidi Gassama given the nod to start on he right-hand side of attack.
Midfielder Connor Barron returns to the matchday squad for the first time since March.
What has Jack Butland said pre-match?
“It is massively important, the old cliches that have already been said, have been said. It really is a matter of winning every game that comes up in front of us. It starts on Sunday, we take one game at a time, but the focus has to be fully on that.
“Not on what happens around us, the two sides above us are going to be playing before, whatever happens, happens. The only thing that matters is what we do against St Mirren.
“For sure, we've seen how quickly it can change over the course of a week or two. 27 points to play for, someone goes and wins all their games, wherever it is us or anybody else, then it is doable. Anything is doable, and we are really looking forward to that challenge.
“One step at a time, but we have a brilliant opportunity, and people need to remember that. Need to see that, as difficult as it may be to forget the last couple of weeks and how you could make that define your season if you wanted to, we can't allow it to.
“We have got to take it in our stride and enjoy what is to come in the next couple of months.”
Here's your confirmed starting XI’s ahead of this afternoon’s league clash in Paisley...
St Mirren XI:
Shamal George; Richard King, Alex Gogic, Miguel Freckleton, Jayden Richardson, Liam Donnelly, Jacob Devaney, Mark O’Hara (C), Scott Tanser, Killian Phillips, Dan Nlundulu.
SUBS: Ryan Mullen (GK), Grant Tamosevicius (GK), Allan Campbell, Thomas Falconer, Roland Idowu, Jalmaro Calvin, Kion Etete, Jake Young, Jonah Ayunga
Rangers XI:
Jack Butland; James Tavernier, Nasser Djiga, Emmanuel Fernandez, Tuur Rommens, Nico Raskin, Tochi Chukwuani, Djeidi Gassama, Mikey Moore, Ryan Naderi, Youssef Chermiti.