Rangers Reeling In Top Flight Return

Rangers take on Queen of the South with the Glasgow club edging ever-closer to a playoff spot which would give them a great chance to return to the top flight in Scotland.

Form
A hard-fought and crucial 1-0 away win over Hibernian at Easter Road on Saturday brought an end to a run of two successive defeats for Queen of the South with Mark Durnan scoring the only goal of the game to keep the club’s playoff dream alive.

The Doonhamers are now just two points adrift of Falkirk in fourth with a game in hand and although they have won only three of their past nine games in all competitions, no team has picked up more points at home in the Scottish Championship this season than James Fowler’s side.

Veteran striker Derek Lyle has scored 12 league goals this season to top the club’s scoring charts and formed a potent partnership alongside 21-year-old Gavin Reilly, with 23 between the two.

Rangers inflicted only a second defeat of the season on new champions Hearts on Sunday at Ibrox with Kenny Miller and Haris Vuckic grabbing their side’s goals in the first half. Lee McCulloch was given a straight red card just before half-time for the hosts to make their task more difficult but Genero Zeefuik goal seven minutes from time proved to be the only consolation the Jambos could muster.

Rangers subsequently moved up to second with the 2-1 win thanks to Hibs’ loss a day earlier, which allowed the Light Blues to overtake the Edinburgh side by three points with a game in hand for Gers to boot. Stuart McCall’s side have now won three on the spin and are undefeated in their last nine games.

The goals have been spread around the side this season with Nicky Clark and Nicky Law leading the way with seven each in the league but Vuckic has scored five in only nine appearances and netted three in his last two outings.

Team News
Michael Patton could miss out for the hosts after being forced off at half-time during Saturday’s victory in Edinburgh with Lewis Kidd expected to get the nod in his place although that’s the only change with no new injury worries to contend with in the squad.

McCullough will miss out through suspension following his sending off against the champions, with Tunisian Bilel Mohsni likely to take the skipper’s spot in the starting line-up with Law potentially moving to right-back from his usual midfield berth.

Head-to-Head
There’s been one win apiece and a draw in the three earlier meetings between the sides this season. Queen of the South won the first clash at Palmerston Park last December 2-0 thanks to goals from Reilly and Kevin Holt and also took a point with them on their last visit to Ibrox when Aidan Smith’s goal four minutes from time earned a 1-1 draw after Vuckic had opened the scoring.

Rangers won the first outing of the season 4-2, despite twice falling behind and won three and drew the fourth of the club’s only other clashes since the turn of the century.

Recommended Bets

With momentum on their side it looks like this is a game that’s there for the taking for Rangers,

…although their recent results against the Glasgow giants will give Queen of the South cause for confidence.

The hosts can breach the rearguard then so take both teams to score in a Rangers win at 13/5, while Vuckic looks a great price at 7/1 to net first and 11/5 anytime.