Rangers Archives - Page 4 of 7

Aberdeen end 12 game winless run at Elgin and more in Scottish Cup Round-up

Aberdeen will hope their convincing 3-0 win over League Two side Elgin City will help get their season back on track as they earned a victory for the first time thirteen games. A Shayden Morris opener followed by a second half Duk double put the Dons on track for a breezy progression to the next round, the task made all the easier by Lyall Booth’s dismissal after two yellow cards with over fifteen minutes remaining. Defending champions Celtic overcame a stubborn Kilmarnock side in a 2-1 victory. Captain Callum McGregor had opened the scoring with long range effort but the visitors responded just before the break through teenager Bobby Wales. In the end, the home side proved too strong with Daizan Maeda putting the tie to bed in the second half. After going into the break just a goal up, Rangers turned on the style in the second half to dispatch the spirited Highland League Fraserburgh side 5-0. A Cyriel Dessers hat-trick and goals from Clinton Nsiala and Ross McCausland ensured the home side would have their name in Monday night’s draw. Despite an impressive turnout in the away end, West of Scotland Premier Division’s Clydebank were powerless to stop Hibernian coming away 3-0 victors at Easter Road. With his 5th and 6th goals in just three games Martin Boyle was in fine form to dispatch the sixth tier side. The captain also added an assist for eighteen year old Rudi Molotnikov to his tally for the afternoon. Hearts came back from a goal down to ease to a 4-1 victory over Highland League side Brechin City. Seventeenth minute substitute Scott Bright fired the home side ahead just six minutes later before Yan Dhanda ensured they went into the break level. Neil Critchley’s side pulled away in the subsequent half with Kevin McHattie’s own goal and a double from new signing Elton Kabangu sealing the tie. Championship club Livingston provided the upset of round, scoring in the penultime minute of extra-time to seal a 3-2 win over Ross County in Dingwall. A penalty from Robbie Muirhead had given the away side the lead before Jordan White equalised. David Martindale’s side re-gained the advantage courtesy of Cristian Montano’s goal before County pulled level once again thanks to Ronan Hale. However in the 119th minute Andrew Shinnie ensured there was no way back for the Premiership side to seal progression to the Last 16. St Mirren proved too strong for League One’s Queen of the South with a 3-1 victory in Dumfries. Toyosi Olusanya’s first half double had set the visitors on their way before Brennan Dickinson pulled one back for Queens. The third tier side struggled for a leveller until substitute Caolan Boyd-Munce dashed their hopes in added time. Manager Simo Valikari will hope St Johnstone‘s 1-0 win over Motherwell can kickstart a climb out of the relegation zone in the coming weeks. Scoring after just nine minutes, Makenzie Kirk ensured fans in Perth could finally celebrate a weekend of football. Meanwhile Championship side Ayr United delivered a 8-0 pummelling of Lowland League side Broxburn Athletic. League One’s Dumbarton suffered a 5-1 home loss to Championship strugglers Airdrieonians. There was extra-time joy for fellow Championship side Queen’s Park who came away 3-2 winners over League One team Montrose. Third tier Stenhousemuir could do little to prevent the Championship’s Dunfermline from powering to a 3-0 victory. Hamilton Academical of League One made their way to the next round after putting away East of Scotland Premier Division side Musselburgh Athletic 3-1. Meanwhile Cove Rangers ensured their would be another member of Scotland’s third division in the Last 16 as they cruised to a 2-0 win over Forfar Athletic.

January 20, 2025

Gers Down Dons as Thelin’s misery continues

Hamza Igamane continued his hot streak as his early goal set Rangers on their way to all three points in a convincing 3-0 victory over a hapless Aberdeen. Igamane gave Rangers a 1-0 lead going into the second half and after a flurry of missed chances, Leon Balogun and Cyriel Dessers completed the win with two late goals in stoppage time. Rangers quickly settled into their rhythm, dominating the early stages of the match. Hamza Igamane has been the man of the moment for Rangers in the last few months and he could’ve put the Gers ahead inside 10 minutes. Kevin Nisbet was dispossessed in the middle of the park and Vaclav Cerny instantly picked out Igamane. With just the keeper to beat the forward was already wheeling away in celebration but his effort whistled by the post to keep the game level. Aberdeen didn’t learn from that early warning however and this time Igamane made no mistake. Nilsen failed to control a simple pass from Doohan and Cerny pounced on the make-shift defender. He drove into the Aberdeen area and cut it back to Diomande. His initial effort was blocked but Igamane was there to hammer the ball into the net to give Rangers the early lead. Aberdeen offered little in the first half but Leighton Clarkson almost produced a moment of magic before the half-hour. He jumped on a loose ball inside the centre circle and went for a spectacular lob that almost had Kelly beat but he scampered back to just keep the ball out. Rangers responded instantly and Danilo will feel he should’ve gotten the second of the night. Hagi had been controlling the game and slipped a through ball into the striker that split the Aberdeen defence. Danilo lifted his strike but Doohan was out quick to deny him a goal. Half-time: Rangers 1 – 0 Aberdeen Rangers started the second half continuing to ask questions of the Aberdeen back-line. Hagi’s strike from the edge of the area looked destined to beat Doohan but it whizzed off the crossbar to keep Aberdeen in the game. Aberdeen were hanging on as the half progressed and Rangers pushed for a second. Both Hagi and Bajrami had efforts from the edge of the area that only just missed the mark. Jimmy Thelin tried to breathe some new life into his lacklustre forward line by bringing on Duk and Morris with Kevin Nisbet and Keskinen putting in another disappointing performance. The changes failed to change the momentum however with Aberdeen continuously turning the ball over with slack pass after slack pass. With ten minutes to go Aberdeen tried to throw bodies forward in an attempt to grab an unlikely equaliser. Shayden Morris was lively when he came on but familiar problems in front of goal arose again for Aberdeen as they failed to create any clear chances that troubled Liam Kelly. Rangers finally thought they had a second minutes from full-time when Leon Balogun glanced a header from a corner but his effort struck the post much to the dismay of the Union Bears behind the goal. With minutes of the 7 added left, Rangers finally put the game to bed. Tavernier’s corner went over everyone but Nsiala was on hand to put the ball back into the area and Balogun rose highest at the back post to rubber stamp the 3 points for Rangers. With seconds left, Dessers then compounded the misery for Thelin’s men. Dorrington let the ball bounce over him and then slipped which let Dessers run at Topers. He cut onto his left and drove it low and past Doohan to complete the game. Full-time Rangers 3 – 0 Aberdeen Teams Rangers: Kelly (GK); Ridvan, Propper (Balogun 74), Nsiala, Jefte, Diomande, Raskin (C), Hagi (Tavernier 78), Cerny, Danilo (Bajrami 46), Igamane (Dessers 88) Aberdeen: Doohan (GK); Devlin, Shinnie, Nilsen, McGarry (Jensen 71), Tobers, Clarkson, Okkels (Polvara 71), Palaversa (Dorrington 64), Keskinen (Morris 66), Nisbet (Duk 64) Referee: Kevin Clancy, Graeme Stewart and David Roome. Nick Walsh (VAR)

January 15, 2025

Dundee 1-1 Rangers: Player ratings from Dens Park

Aaron Donnelly made a big impression on his second debut whilst Ridvan Yilmaz endured a night to forget. Dundee (3-4-2-1) Trevor Carson Probably surprised not to have more work. Nothing he could do to stop goal and good saves to deny Igamane and Cerny. 7 Ryan Astley Part of strong back three that kept attack quiet. 7 Clark Robertson Like Astley, acted like a brickwall when Cerny approached. 7 Aaron Donnelly Return to the club showed what shrewd eye for loans the club has. Attacking threat and had the beating of opposite number all night. Love of duels evident with celebration after stopping Cortes. 8 Josh Mulligan Assist led to opener and worked tirelessly to cover right hand side. Easily dealt with Matondo after Welshman’s introduction. 8 Mo Sylla Taught Diomande and Barron a lesson in controlling the midfield. Strong on the ball if slightly lacking going forward. 7 Cesar Garza Filling in for injured talisman Lyall Cameron no easy task but recent arrival from Mexico did not put a foot wrong. Docherty full of praise during press conference. 7 Ethan Ingram Enterprise led to goal. Asked to play in unfamiliar position and did so without noticeable difficulty. Task made easier by facing an out of sorts Yilmaz. 7 Scott Tiffoney Not his most scintellating evening but showed his value as he directed his teammates around the park. 6 Oluwaseun Adewumi Continues to go from strength to strength during his loan spell. Composed finish for goal and was denied a second by the offside flag. Will have attracted a few eyeballs from around with performance. 8 Simon Murray Could not add to hot goalscoring form but continued in his role of terrier/ master of the dark arts. Experienced showed against Nsiala but sometimes too keen to look for foul. 6 SUBSTITUTES: Julian Vetro (for Tiffoney 70′) Added dynamism down right 7; Seb Palmer-Houlden (for Murray 70′) brought on to see out draw and did just that 7; Simon Braybrook (for Garza 78′) Same as P-H 7. Tony Docherty A side with only four outfield players on the bench compared to Rangers’ eight should not look the more energised by the end but such is the great work Docherty has done. Continues to get the best out of players. Return of Donnelly looks a masterstroke. 8 Rangers (4-2-3-1) Liam Kelly Nervy start. Early punched clearance was a player lacking control of his area. Little to be done about goal and wasn’t particularly troubled after that. 5 Ridvan Yilmaz One of his worst in a Rangers shit. Cut in on the left far too often when space was on the right. Leting the ball bumble out of feet near touchline summed up his evening. 3 Robin Propper Part of makeshift pairing. Seemed to put early goal behind him but his diagonal passes were done far too often and lacked accuracy. More needed from evening’s captain. 5 Clinton Nsiala Couple of shanked clearances seemed right for a player making first senior appearance but grew into the game. Murray as tough as they come for a debut opponent but did well. Looked more assured of partnership by the end. 6 Jefte Almost identical evening to Yilmaz. Clement was not pleased with performance. Booked for a needless challenge on Tiffoney. 3 Connor Barron Stepping in for Raskin. Not a great night for the midfielder whose difficult first season continues. Easily bypassed in middle of park far too often. Brought off for more effective Danilo. 4 Mohamed Diomande Lacked the physicality to impose himself. Too sloppy in possession as side struggled to string passes together. 4 Vaclav Cerny Found himself running into filled corridors. Got the all important goal and was denied by Carson for second. Despite difficult evening was one of side’s better performers. 6 Nedim Bajrami Not a n10. Struggled to link play together and was almost invisible in first half. Began to drop deeper to create something but to little avail. 4 Ianis Hagi Wonder strike against Celtic feels years ago. Made no impact and was hooked at half time for Matondo. Will be glad to see the back of Dens Park for as long as possible. 3 Hamza Igamane Frustrating evening for the striker. Clement annoyed he tried to create chances rather than finish them. Managed an assist but otherwise kept quiet by defenders. 5 SUBSTITUTES: Rabbi Matondo (for Hagi 46′) Still not back to full force and came off second best to Tiffoney 5; Danilo (for Barron 66′) Livelier than his teammates but could not create anything 5; Ross McCausland (for Yilmaz 81′) Asked to play right back for short time on pitch and did fine 6; Oscar Cortes (for Cerny 87′) n/a. Philippe Clement Stuck to formation and continues to employ almost identical/ exhausted line up despite congested fixture list. If no signings arrive soon it could be a sign of an imminent change in manager. 3

January 10, 2025

Difficulties away from home continue as Dundee hold Rangers to draw

Venue: Dens Park Date: 09/01/25 Time: 20:00pm Rangers’ woeful away record continued as Dundee battled to well earned draw, leaving the visitors with just 13 points from a possible 33 on the road. It was a nightmare start for Clement’s side as Josh Mulligan made the most of a blocked Scott Tiffoney effort to square the ball to Oluwaseun Adewumi who fired Dundee ahead just five minutes in. Having struggled to break down a well organised defence, Rangers found joy just nearly half an hour later as Hamza Igamane’s pass into the feet of Vaclav Cerny finished a rapid counter attack. Rangers were however fortunate to go into the break one apiece with returning loan signing Aaron Donnelly making his presence known from the off, denied only by flying bodies in front of goal. Struggling to find the target, Ridvan Yilmaz endured a torrid evening, firing a distant effort well over the bar as Dundee looked resolute in defence. Cerny came close to adding a second, denied by the outstretched arm of one Trevor Carson before skewing the rebound. Dundee never looked like settling for a point and they were close to getting all three but Adewumi’s double was denied by the offside flag. As the second half wore on Rangers seemed to lose confidence in their ability to find a winner, Igamane a rare brightspark saw his effort parried to safety by Carson. Meanwhile the home side continued to punish sloppy passing, Julien Vetro racing down the right hand sand and feeding the ball to a well placed Adewumi whose effort lacked the requisite accuracy to trouble Liam Kelly. Almost reproducing the goal from nothing, Mohamed Diomande rattled the crossbar from 30 yards with a well beaten Trevor Carson’s feet planted beneath before Jefte put his headed effort just above the woodwork. Donnelly face of dogged Dundee With a squad about as threadbare as they come, Tony Docherty found himself flipping through his roladex to fill out a side needed to put two keepers on the bench. But off the back of tonight it looks as though he’s plucked the perfect name in Aaron Donnelly, who made his second debut for the club after his loan spell last season from high flying Nottingham Forest. The Northern Ireland international epitomised everything the manager wanted from his players, brave in attack and solid in defence. Attempts on goals were denied by some last ditch defending whilst he continued to get the better of his opposite man at the back, making his satisfaction known after denying Oscar Cortes in a duel. Docherty will pray Donnelly can stay fit as the side edges ever closer to the top half. Out of ideas, out of steam Despite having four more outfield players on the bench, not to mention the exorbitant financial gap between the sides, it was Rangers who looked to be on their last legs this evening. Whilst they have experienced injury problems themselves, giving first starts to centre backs Nsiala tonight and Leon King last week, the problems look far greater around them. Jefte and Yilmaz both let the ball slip out of their feet in almost Sunday League levels of ball control and Hamza Igamane was often too desperate in his attempts to create chances for his side as Ianis Hagi had a night to forget before being hooked at half-time. There are still plenty of games to be played this season, including six this month but Rangers are already turning to Europe for salvation as they hope to banish their away day hoodoo. If they can’t find a cure, Clement will find himself answering more and more questions about his future at the club. What the Managers had to say Attendance: 8,606 Line ups: Dundee (3-4-2-1): T. Carson (c), A. Donnelly, C. Robertson, R. Astley, E. Ingram, C. Garza (S. Braybrooke 78′), M. Sylla, J. Mulligan, O. Adewumi, S. Tiffoney (S. Palmer-Houlden), S. Murray (J. Vetro) Substitutes: S. Braybrooke, L. Graham, C. Main, J. McCracken, S. Palmer-Houlden, H. Sharp, J. Vetro Rangers (4-2-3-1): L. Kelly, Jefte, C. Nsiala, R. Propper, R. Yilmaz (R. McCausland 81′), M. Diomande, C. Barron (Danilo 66′), I. Hagi (R. Matondo 46′), N. Bajrami, V. Cerny (O. Cortes 87′), H. Igamane Substitutes: O. Cortes, C. Dessers, K. Dowell, M. Munn, L. King, R. Matondo, R. McCausland, Danilo, B. Rice Referee: Calum Scott

January 9, 2025

Igamane hat-trick not enough as resilient Hibs earn point

Venue: Easter Road Date: 05/01/25 Time: 12:00pm A perfect hat-trick for Hamza Igamane could not put away a spirited Hibs as Rangers dropped points for the third time in four games. Having been denied by Jordan Smith in the third minute, the Moroccan striker opened his account when he was first to meet Ianis Hagi’s cross. Continuing to knock at Hibernian’s door, Igamane doubled his and Rangers’ tally with an excellent header from Nedim Bajrami’s cross. Never looking like giving in, the home side responded through Martin Boyle, after the striker was teed up by Rock Bushiri’s header. As David Gray’s men continued to apply the pressure, they were soon rewarded when Ianis Hagi went from hero to villain, briging Chris Cadden down in the box with Boyle dispatching the spot kick to level the score. Their efforts seemed in vain as Igamane fired home his third and tenth goal in just eleven games after Cerny did well to find the striker with another low ball across goal. Down but never out, Bushiri’s header to bring the score the 3-3 epitomised the fighting spirit of a side that has gone from the foot of the table to undefeated in six games. Igamane was furious as he failed to add an remarkable fourth, beating Bushiri and racing through on goal but his shot was just wide as Hibs secured a crucial point. Both sides had their chances but Rangers will rue not putting the game to bed in the first half. Bajrami had an opportunity early on as Cerny’s pinpoint ball send the Albanian through on goal but Hibs put bodies on the line to deflect the ball out for a corner and would do the same soon after as Igamane continued to hound the home side’s goalmouth. David Gray has Jordan Smith to thank for keeping his side in it, denying Bajrami, Cerny and Igamane who continued to unleash attempts on goal lest Smith lose his focus for a split second. Hibs however grew into the game as Lewis Miller recovered from a nervy start to thunder an effort from outside the box, stinging the palms of keeper Kelly before his header seemed certain to have put his side ahead just a minute later. Kelly looked a grateful man as he watched the ball bounce off the inside of his post and back into his hands but the message was clear, Hibs were not finished yet. Following the late equaliser they looked set to hang on for a point until Igamane raced past Bushiri and in on goal with time almost up but his shot could only hit the post. Rangers have now dropped seven points in their last four games as they look to turn things around away to Dundee on Thursday. Igamane can’t lift makeshift defence Not even Clement himself would have predicted that just a few months on from playing in Morocco, Hamza Igamane would be the side’s most valuable player. Ten goals in eleven games is astonishing improvement on the one he manged in the eleven prior but the striker continues to rescue his team from their defensive woes, having scored both goals in their draw against Motherwell. Despite a hat-trick, the man who is yet to receive a senior cap could not hide the fact that Rangers continue to be the architects of their own downfall. Much was expected from the side after trouncing Celtic 3-0 but careless defending and an mishandling of the game tactically meant they gave themselves little to no chance of catching the current champions. Clement’s problems do not stop there after he watched Dujon Sterling, already playing in an unfamiliar centre-back role due to the absence of John Souttar and Leon Balogun, limp off the field and be replaced by Leon King. Now as they travel to Dundee in just four days time, they will need to rely on a defender who up until had yet to play a senior minute this season. Dogged Hibs transformed After one win from their opening fourteen games, there was little surprise as rumours circulated that manager David Gray was for the chop. Now with just one defeat in eight, Gray reserves to right to feel a little smug as his side find themselves a hair’s length from the top six. His remarked determination to confront the club’s problems header looks to have seeped into his players who never gave up despite going two goals down before the half hour mark. Nicky Cadden continues to look like a fish in water as a wing-back, firing crosses in a causing his opposite number trouble to no end. The turnaround however, is most epitomised by Martin Boyle whose two goals are indicative of a player who looks to have put one of his most difficult starts to a season safely in distance. In the post-match conference, Gray joked that he would have laughed if someone had suggested to him that Boyle might one day be captain and yet, he now embodies the fighting spirit that has seen the Hibees pull away from their Edinburgh rivals. As the race for the top half intensifies, there is plenty of evidence to suggest they could be up and amongst it. What the mangers said: Hibs boss David Gray: “Massive credit to the players for the second half performance and hanging in there in the first half to be honest. “I’ve had to sit and answer a lot of questions about the character of the group but they’ve answered that numerous times in recent weeks. “I joke with [Martin Boyle] with quite a lot because when he joined the club, if you’d said to me he was going to turn out to be a Hibs captain one day I would have laughed at you but he’s matured into that role.” Rangers boss Philippe Clement: “It’s a frustrating afternoon to lose three points. “I don’t understand the penalty situation. It’s a small collision between two players at top

January 5, 2025

Hamza Igamane could be new Ibrox hero but will Clement risk over-dependency?

Hamza Igamane has been the face of Rangers side on the mend despite some testing results in recent weeks, his second half cameo against Motherwell producing two goals reminiscent of forwards of old. The Moroccan embodies the return of grit and steel to the position of striker at Ibrox, a role occupied by distinguished figures in the club’s recent history. However with eight games left to play in January alone, including Hibernian on Sunday, Philippe Clement faces one of his biggest tests in management. The Rangers boss was widely mocked for his decision to bench Igamane and Vaclav Cerny against Motherwell on the back of advice from the sports science department. Yet as he chases the Europa League, Scottish Cup and arch rivals Celtic in the league, he will be depending on the 22 year old to the point of potential injury or, risk his own future at the club should alternatives fail to deliver. In good company Far from earning their acclaim as false nines, striker’s have made names for themselves at Ibrox through tenacity and a relentless pursuit of goals. As a new year rolls on, the classic centre forward of days gone by remains just as adored now as it was then. Through the seasons, there have been those who have earned that kind of legendary status by delivering on a long term basis, à la Kris Boyd who finished four of his five seasons with Rangers as the league’s top scorer. Igamane is a long way from that and it is more than likely he will be off long before Boyd’s five years, let alone Ally McCoist’s fifteen, with rumours already swirling that he has attracted interested from clubs in England. Yet others have left their mark in far less time at Glasgow side. Nikica Jelavic spent just a year and a half at the club but has remained a firm favourite amongst fans ever since. Helped in no small part by his contributions to driving the side to a league title and a winner against Celtic in the League Cup to make it a double in 2011. Always looking a cut above, he terrorised defenders with 30 goals in just 45 games but eventually the lure of the Premier League proved too strong, making his way to Everton in January 2012. Despite the short stint, Jelavic is always a welcomed addition to the club’s ‘Legends’ games over a decade since leaving. It is too early to say if Igamane will have the same impact of the Croatian or his strike partner in 2010-11, Kenny Miller, who managed an eye watering 21 goals in 18 games to win his third consecutive title at the club during his second of three spells with Rangers. However with seven goals in ten games, including a double against Nice and a leveller against Tottenham, he seems to be on the right track. Considering Igamane had managed just one in the eleven prior, it shows a remarkable improvement from a player who didn’t immediately hit the ground running as the aforementioned players did. A lack of mental fortitude has been the stick with which this Rangers squad have been beaten as candidates up front struggled to replicate the steel of the last striker to etch his name into folklore. Fiery boots to fill Alfredo Morelos is as much loved at Ibrox as he is hated by fans from every club he has faced. Seemingly as likely to score as he was to be sent off, the Colombian did not have the goal return of those before him but his win at all costs attitude propelled Rangers to a first Premiership title in a decade to stop Celtic winning the coveted ‘ten in a row’. His time at the club ended on a slightly sour note, Morelos took every opportunity to express a desire to move away from the club as his contract ran down but Rangers have since struggled desperately to replicate his impact. Following his exit, a flurry of players auditioned for the part of ‘Ibrox hero number nine’ but none quite fit the bill. Kemer Roofe had his moments but his time in Glasgow was blighted by injuries as he was never able to be relied on during his four years at the club. Three time Croatian international Antonio Colak’s star burned bright albeit briefly. An impressive 13 goals in 17 games was as good as it got before fading with niggles of his own and poor form. Michael Beale arrived and sent the frontman packing to Parma after just one season in favour of Danilo and Cyriel Dessers. The club are only just starting to see some return on their investment in the Brazilian and the much maligned Dessers has never felt the love from fans and his time at the club seems to be coming to an end. Despite 22 goals in all competitions last season, which is no bad return, the striker’s perpetual habit of missing clear cut chances has not helped the fact that he does not fit the moult of the classic centre forward Rangers supporters have come to expect. The question now is whether the ever growing weight of expectation will prove too heavy for the young man. A New Hope Igamane was not even included in the first three league squads of the campaign but just a few months on Clement would struggle to name a starting line-up without him. Dessers was given a rare start against Motherwell in the last game of 2024 but had little to celebrate going into the new year as he was hauled off at the break and Igamane was tasked with salvaging something from the wreckage. Two goals and a point that prevented a second consecutive defeat for the side highlights a growing dependency that has been compounded by the demand from fans to kickstart a run of wins off the back of their performance at Celtic. Games against Manchester United and Union Saint-Gilloise in

January 4, 2025

January 2025 Transfer News: Scottish Premiership Signings, Departures, and Deals

Stay Updated: All the Latest Scottish Premiership Transfers on SNN Sports The January transfer window is in full swing, and clubs across the Scottish Premiership are making key moves to strengthen their squads. From last-minute deals to blockbuster signings, SNN Sports has you covered with real-time updates. Follow our Transfer Centre blog for breaking news, confirmed signings, and expert analysis. Plus, explore our comprehensive list of all the ins and outs from the 2025 January transfer window—only on SNN Sports! Aberdeen Transfers In Alexander Jensen – – IF Brommapojkarna, undisclosed Jeppe Okkels – Preston, loan Kristers Tobers – Grasshopper Club Zurich, undisclosed Alfie Dorrington – Tottenham, loan Alexander Jensen – IF Brommapojkarna, undisclosed Out James McGarry – Athens Kallithea, loan Celtic transfers In Jota – Rennes, £8m Out Stephen Welsh – KV Mechelen, loan Odin Holm – LAFC, loan Alexandro Bernabei – Internacional, £5m Kyogo Furuhashi – Rennes, £10m Dundee transfers In Aaron Donnelly – Nottingham Forest, undisclosed Imari Samuels – Brighton, undisclosed Victor Lopez – Queretaro, loan Cesar Garza – Monterrey, loan Out Sammy Braybrooke – Leicester City, recalled from loan Curtis Main – Ayr United Dundee United transfers In Ruari Paton – Port Vale, loan Lewis Fiorini – Stockport County, loan Out Jack Newman – Livingston, loan Hearts transfers In Elton Kabangu – Royal Union SG, loan Jamie McCart – Rotherham United, undisclosed Lewis Neilson – St Johnstone, recalled from loan Michael Steinwender – IFK Värnamo, undisclosed Sander Kartum – SK Brann, undisclosed Out Liam Boyce – Derry City, undisclosed Kye Rowles – D.C. United, undisclosed Daniel Oyegoke – Hellas Verona, undisclosed Hibernian transfers In Alasana Manneh – Odense Boldklub, undisclosed Out Josh O’Connor – Crusaders, undisclosed Nohan Kenneh – Ross County, loan Jake Doyle-Hayes – Released Kilmarnock transfers In Calvin Ramsay – Liverpool, loan Out Jack Burroughs – Coventry City, recalled from loan – Motherwell transfers In Kai Andrews – Coventry City, loan Archie Mair – Norwich City, loan Ellery Balcombe – Brentford, loan Luke Armstrong – Carlisle United, loan Out – Rangers transfers In Rafael Fernandes – Lille, loan Out Robbie Fraser – Livingston, loan Cole McKinnon – Ayr United, loan Kieran Dowell – Birmingham City, loan Ross County transfers In Nohan Kenneh – Hibernian, loan Kieran Phillips – Huddersfield Town, undisclosed Zac Ashworth – Blackpool, loan Jonathan Tomkinson – Norwich City, loan Out Eamonn Brophy – Falkirk, loan Ricki Lamie – Hamilton, loan St Johnstone transfers In Victor Griffith – Arabe Unido, undisclosed Sam Curtis – Sheffield United, loan Jonathan Svedberg – Allsvenskan, undisclosed Daniels Balodis – RFS, undisclosed Out Kyle Cameron – Notts County, recalled from loan Lewis Neilson – Hearts, recalled from loan Connor Smith – Hamilton Accies, undisclosed St Mirren transfers In Owen Oseni – Gateshead, undisclosed Zach Hemming – Middlesbrough, loan Out Kieran Offord – Linfield, undisclosed

January 1, 2025

Igamane’s Heroics Salvage a Point for Rangers in Dramatic Fir Park Clash

Rangers narrowly avoided a second consecutive league defeat as substitute Hamza Igamane’s second-half double secured a 2-2 draw against a spirited Motherwell side at Fir Park. The result, however, sees Rangers slip 14 points behind league leaders Celtic ahead of their crucial Old Firm clash on Thursday. Manager Phillipe Clement, under pressure after recent performances, turned to Igamane to rescue his side from a two-goal deficit. The Moroccan delivered, smashing home his first after the ball dropped fortuitously in the box before curling a precise strike into the far corner to level the score. Motherwell’s First-Half Brilliance Motherwell, though, will feel aggrieved not to have claimed all three points. The hosts dominated the first half, capitalising on Rangers’ defensive disarray. Apostolos Stamatelopoulos opened the scoring with a sharp finish beneath Jack Butland, before Tawanda Maswanhise produced a moment of magic. The midfielder danced past multiple defenders before firing home a stunning solo goal, giving Motherwell hope of ending a 21-year wait for a home league victory over Rangers. Stuart Kettlewell’s men continued to threaten and twice had the ball in the net through Tony Watt, but both efforts were ruled out after VAR checks – decisions that left Kettlewell incensed and ultimately saw him sent off for his protests. Rangers Rally but Fall Short Despite Igamane’s heroics, Rangers struggled to find the cutting edge needed to snatch a late winner. The visitors pushed relentlessly, yet their profligacy, particularly from forwards Cyriel Dessers and Danilo, cost them dearly. Clement lamented his team’s defensive frailties after the match: “If you need to score three or four goals every time to win, it has to be much better. The fans are frustrated, and I understand that because I am too. In the first half, we conceded two goals we can never allow. It made things much harder for us.” Bright Spots Amid Disappointment For Motherwell, Maswanhise’s dazzling performance stood out, with his skill and creativity causing problems for a shaky Rangers backline. The home side’s tenacity and discipline in the dying stages underscored their strong campaign so far under Kettlewell. Kettlewell, though disappointed with the draw, expressed pride in his team: “I’m immensely proud of the players and what they gave us again. The disappointment comes in our start to the second half, but this was always going to be tough. There’s a bit of disappointment that it’s only a point, but no disappointment in the personality, the character, and what they showed.” Looking Ahead The result leaves Motherwell in high spirits despite the missed opportunity, while Rangers will need a marked improvement to challenge Celtic in their next outing. For both sides, the battle for points continues, but the drama at Fir Park will linger long in the memory.

December 30, 2024

St Mirren Time Strikes Again as Boyd-Munce Scores Late Winner

St Mirren recorded their first league win over Rangers since Christmas Eve in 2011 as Caolan Boyd-Munce struck late to earn his side 3 points on Boxing Day. In Paisley, St Mirren looked to make it three wins on the bounce after back to back wins against St Johnstone and Ross County respectively. Meanwhile Philippe Clement’s Rangers would be eager to continue their fine run of form in their penultimate fixture before the Old Firm derby next Thursday. St Mirren started the game on the front foot. Declan John, fresh off the back of signing a contract extension with the Buddies left James Tavernier in his mist as he darted down the line. His cross, however, was of no trouble to Jack Butland in the Rangers goal. In the 25th minute, it was the home side who created the first clear cut chance. Marcus Fraser whipped in a cross which met the feet of Greg Kiltie. The midfielder controlled it but his shot was blocked by a well-positioned Dujon Sterling. Noticeable frustrations on the pitch for the away side. Vaclav Cerny in particular was not shy in urging his side on. Some resolute defending from Marcus Fraser and Alex Gogic resulted in a quick counter attack and an exquisite pass from Oisin Smyth sent Olusanya through on goal. Leon Balogun looked to have pulled up with what looked like a hamstring injury but managed to recover and clear the danger for his side before being substituted for Dutch defender Robin Pröpper. Jack Butland would be next to fall foul to St Mirren’s quick counter as he wiped out an onrushing Greg Kiltie. Much to the disgruntlement of the home crowd only a yellow was brandished but their side earned a penalty. Oisin Smyth stepped up and calmly slotted past Butland and put his side ahead after half an hour. Tensions toppled over on the sidelines with Rangers boss Philippe Clement receiving a yellow card for voicing his frustrations. Hamza Igamane saw his shot land straight into the arms of Ellery Balcombe and a series of St Mirren corners ended the half with the home side one goal to the good. Half Time: St Mirren 1- 0 Rangers Half time changes by Rangers saw the introduction of Nicolas Raskin and Danilo which ignited the away side. Less than a minute was played before James Tavernier fired a cross along the St Mirren six yard line but there were no takers. The Ibrox side continued to pile on the pressure with Balcombe in the home sides’ goal having to be on high alert but it was not long before they found the equaliser. A succession of corners led to a mix up in the St Mirren box and Danilo managed to squeeze his shot into the goal, levelling the game. Shots from Igamane and Danilo were expertly saved by Balcombe, followed quickly by a rocket from Vaclav Cerny which rattled the outside of the post had the hosts riding a fine line. Robinson looked to his bench and brought on Jonah Ayunga and Alex Iacovitti to try and get his team back into the game as they contained pressure from their visitors. In what seems to be a common theme, St Mirren came to life in the last 10 minutes. A corner of their own whipped in by goalscorer Oisin Smyth almost caught Butland off guard but the stopper will have been glad to see the ball hit the frame of his goal before going behind for a goal kick. 6 minutes of added time followed the introduction of Paisley youngsters Callum Penman and Evan Mooney, who sparked a new lease of life into the home crowd. They roared their side on and in the 93rd minute they reaped their reward. Ayunga hunted the ball down and dispossessed Sterling. The striker made a driving run down the left hand side before squaring the ball to Mooney who had composure beyond his years. Controlling the ball and laying it off perfectly to Caolan Boyd-Munce and the midfielder placed the ball into the bottom left hand corner. The Buddies held on and secure their third win in as many games. Full Time: St Mirren 2- 1 Rangers In a quick turnaround, the Paisley side end 2024 with a home match against Dundee on Sunday and Rangers make the short trip to Fir Park to face Motherwell. Standout Performer: Ellery Balcombe– Every shot thrown at him he was of equal measure and if it wasn’t for some of his lightning quick reactions his side may well have had a mountain to climb as they were put under pressure by their visitors in the 2nd half. The stopper commanded his area well and took the pressure off his back line when needed. Teams: St Mirren: Balcombe (GK), Fraser (C), Taylor, Gogic, John (Penman, 83”), Bwomono (Iacovitti, 63”), Phillips, Smyth, Kiltie (Ayunga, 63”), Idowu (Boyd-Munce, 74”), Olusanya (Mooney, 83”) Rangers: Butland (GK), Tavernier (C), Sterling, Balogun (Pröpper, 19”), Jefte (Yilmaz, 78”), Barron (Raskin, 46”), Diomande, Cerny, Bajrami (Danilo, 46”), Hagi, Igamane (Dessers, 82”) Referee: David Dickinson Attendance: 7175

December 26, 2024

Cerny finish rescues wasteful Rangers against Dundee

Venue: Ibrox Date: 21/12/24 Time: 15:00 Vlaclav Cerny’s second half finish saw Rangers defeat Dundee to leapfrog Aberdeen into second. Despite a dominant performance which saw the home side hit the crossbar four times, it was only Danilo’s pass to unleash Cerny on an impressive run and dribble past Trevor Carson that proved the difference. Ianis Hagi was the first to strike the woodwork, his thundering effort bouncing off the top of the bar. Captain James Tavernier was next, his free kick from distance agonisingly close to give Philippe Clement an opener as Dundee clung on for life. Cerny came close before the break, Hamilton able to keep the midfielder out. Rangers should have come away from this fixture comfortable winners but for Hamza Igamane being kept out by Jordan McGhee on the line and hitting the crossbar with a point blank effort later on. They were almost punished for their profligacy in front of goal but Finlay Robertson could not convert. Attendance: 47,208 Line-ups: L. Kelly, Jefté, R. Pröpper, D. Sterling, J. Tavernier (c), I. Hagi (R. Yilmaz 84’), N. Raskin, M. Diomande, H. Igamane (C. Dessers 84’), Danilo (N. Bajrami 62’), V. Černý (R. McCausland 75’) Substitutes: N. Bajrami, L. Balogun, C. Barron, J. Butland, Ó. Cortés, C. Dessers, K. Dowell, R. McCausland, R. Yilmaz Line-ups: T. Carson (c), B. Koumetio, A. Portales, R. Astley, J. McGhee, F. Roberston, S. Tiffoney (J. Vetro 65’), L. Cameron, M. Sylla, J. Mulligan, S. Palmer-Houlden (S. Murray 65’) Substitutes: J. McCracken, S. Braybrooke, E. Ingram, S. Kelly, C. Main, S. Murray, H. Sharp, J. Vetro Referee: Matthew McDermid

December 22, 2024

Rangers

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