First team

Rangers (A) | Match Preview

31/01/2025

By Peter Mackay

Ross County are back on their travels this weekend after three home matches in a row. Don Cowie takes his Staggies side to face the team with the best home record in the Scottish Premiership this season. Ibrox is the destination as Rangers host the Highlanders on Sunday, with a 3:00 PM kick-off.

From the Dugout with Don Cowie

It’s been twelve months since that dreadful 5-0 loss at Motherwell which turned out to be the last match of Derek Adams’ third spell in charge of Ross County.

What came next, is perhaps one of the best outcomes of a heavy loss we have had.

Don Cowie was appointed as interim manager, and since then, Ross County have achieved some milestones with our form being largely positive.

Reflecting on the past year, the gaffer, Don Cowie said: “You are always learning, in the year it has been a big learning curve for me, just all aspects of it.

“When you are the first-team coach or the assistant manager you are protected from a lot of what goes into running a football club.

“Your job then is designing and taking sessions and getting a team ready for the Saturday.

“It's been about adapting and getting used to the off-the-field situations - but in terms of actually being the manager, it's everything I thought it would be.

“Highs, lows, having to deal with things in games, issues that arise – it's about being able to adapt.

“I wouldn’t change it for the world, I've loved every minute of it.”

Ross County have defeated Rangers just once in their history, and the man who masterminded it all was indeed Don Cowie.

However, this time around with the tie being away from home, it will be no easy feat to repeat.

Fresh off the back of a win in the Europa League, Rangers do have injuries, but Cowie believes that they won't be too hindered by that.

Don added: “It’s Rangers, they have a big squad – I would imagine they plan to be in Europe at this stage, so they have a squad with the capability of fighting on all fronts.

“It’s a real challenge for us, despite them playing on Thursday.

“They have the best home record in the Country so it shows the size of the challenge we’ve got.

“However, the way I'm looking at it is, we have to make it four wins on the trot away from home – that has to be the belief we hold going into the game.”

Rangers

League-wise, Rangers will be disappointed with how they have faired this season, as a ten-point gap separates them and rivals Celtic who occupy first place.

Rangers away form has let them down on several occasions this season, but as aforementioned, at home, the Gers have been untouchable - yet to lose a single game on their Glasgow turf.

This week Rangers defeated Union Saint Gilloise 2-1 to send them straight through into the round of 16 in the Europa League.

Rangers have only lost one of their last ten matches, and that was against giants Manchester United.

Player to Watch

Ross County fans will be all too aware of this man's danger, as he showed it in abundance when the blue half of Glasgow visited Dingwall in our last encounter.

Since signing from FAR Rabat, Morrocan Hamza Igamane has been the talisman for Rangers this season.

The 22-year-old has netted on nine occasions, with his skillful overall approach making it very hard for defenders to read his play.

The Rangers star is averaging 4.62 shots per 90 minutes, showing the constant level of threat he poses.

Ross County

County head into this difficult tie coming off the back of a well-earned late point against Hibernian.

Ronan Hale smashed home a late penalty to grab a point, maintaining the Staggies tenth place position.

County have lost just one match, versus Celtic, in their last six league games.

It has been a fantastic run of form for Ross County recently, and a positive result in Glasgow will, of course, be hard to come by, but it will be the goal.

Player to Watch

Since signing from Stockport County, Akil Wright has played every single league minute for Ross County.

The athletic centre half has been a stalwart at the back under Don Cowie, with his ball-playing ability making him a real asset in all areas of the park.

The former Wrexham man is first in the Scottish Premiership for interceptions, as well as making 1.42 tackles per 90.

Wright has netted on three occasions for the Staggies this season, which again backs up just how key he is in this system.

Familiar Faces

Richard Foster and Stephen Kelly both played for Rangers as well as the Staggies.

Mark Brown and Brian McLean also played for the Glasgow side.

Memorable Match

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okc_Z-1ZNi8

Team News

Michee Efete, Jack Grieves, Will Nightingale, Ryan Leak and Alex Samuel miss out through injury.

Ross Laidlaw is back in training.

Kacper Lopata returns to fitness and is available for selection.

Nohan Kenneh returns to availability after being ineligible versus Hibernian.

Refereeing Team

Referee: Steven McLean

AR1: David Roome

AR2: Andy Milne

VAR: Andrew Dallas

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