Rangers host Hearts in the Scottish Premiership tomorrow – and to call it a big game would undersell the spectacle.
Win and Danny Rohl’s side will go within two points of Derek McInnes’ men. Lose, and they’ll be eight points behind in the title race with only 11 games to go.
Rohl’s team selection was heavily criticised on Wednesday after a 1-1 draw with Motherwell. Having hinted that he prepared that game and this together, how will he shape up tomorrow?
Joshua Barrie
I suspect that Rohl will revert back to a more familiar midfield set-up against Hearts.
Don’t forget the role that set-pieces will have against the side at the top of the league. For that reason I wouldn’t be surprised if Thelo Aasgaard was given the nod.
And, Nasser Djiga was Rangers’ best player at Fir Park. It feels harsh to bench the Burkina Faso international.
With that said, John Souttar and Manny Fernandez present the most likely pairing. Tuur Rommens also ought to return at left-back and Dujon Sterling has been kept fresh for this fixture. It’s harsh to drop any one of the three central midfielders who began the game in midweek.
Ahead of them? Djeidi Gassama was awful against Motherwell. I just have a sneaky feeling that his manager may turn to him again instead of pitching Oliver Antman in from the start.
Mikey Moore, Andreas Skov Olsen and Ryan Naderi all have to start.
Blair Malloy
There was a collective feeling of bemusement around the press box on Wednesday night when the team news dropped. To say Rohl’s selection took everyone by surprise is an understatement. In the days since, column inches have been filled by the question – did he get his team wrong?
One would hope the manager would have taken valuable lessons from the Fir Park encounter, where Rangers were roundly outperformed both with and without the ball.
It could all have been so different, though, had Youssef Chermiti buried a glorious first-half chance. It was both an example of the profligacy that Rangers may come to regret towards the business end of the season, and also another entry on the charge sheet towards the Portuguese, who looks unable to function as a lone forward.
With that in mind, Naderi has to start. In fairness to Rohl, had he been fully fit, he probably would have on Wednesday, but he must be in from the off against the league leaders.
As well as Mo Diomande did for Rangers’ opener, I would sacrifice that extra body in the middle to add another attacker in the shape of Antman. This would also allow Moore to adopt his favoured position in the central area rather than being isolated on the touchline.
The fact that Skov Olsen didn’t see any minutes in Lanarkshire continues to be baffling days on, however, it was a case of managing his minutes; he should be raring to go from the off in the biggest game of the season so far.
I expect Sterling to come back in ahead of James Tavernier and Rommens to get the nod ahead of Jayden Meghoma to add solidity to both full-back
Chris Jack
The visit of Hearts has been an eagerly anticipated date on the calendar for some time now. Events of recent days have only heightened the stakes for when the whistle goes but there is plenty to look forward to even before the teams take to the park. The 11 that Rohl selects will come under scrutiny from supporters.
The German admitted on Wednesday night that he had taken the matches with Motherwell and Hearts as a one and, in effect, picked a team for Fir Park with Ibrox in mind. Two of those that missed out in midweek – Tuur Rommens and Andreas Skov Olsen – simply must start this time. The third January recruit that was overlooked, Ryan Naderi, must also feature from the off if he is fit to do so.
Chermiti has had his chances and missed too many of them. On a day where Rangers must win, the Portuguese cannot be relied on. Naderi would be the popular choice to lead the line, and he would be the right one.
Fernandez should also return, as should Antman. Starting the Finn on the left would allow Moore to operate centrally and would be a shot across the bows of Gassama after a low-key run of outings. The other big call is at right-back and Sterling is more reliable defensively than Tavernier right now.
