Preview: Rangers vs. Ross County - prediction, team news, lineups

The Gers meet the Staggies for the first time since August last year when they claimed a 2-0 victory at Victoria Park.

Match preview

Since losing to Old Firm rivals Celtic in their final fixture of 2023, Rangers have won seven games in a row across all competitions, including Saturday's 2-0 home victory over Championship outfit Ayr United in the Scottish Cup fifth round.

Left-back Borna Barisic opened the scoring in the 10th minute with his first goal of the season, before January loan signing Fabio Silva sealed the victory with a strike on the 76-minute mark to help the Gers set up a quarter-final tie away against Hibernian next month.

Philippe Clement's side shift their focus back to the Scottish Premiership where they have mounted a serious challenge for the title since the Belgian's arrival in mid-October, following a run of 14 wins from 16 games, scoring 37 goals in the process.

Rangers currently six second in the table but have the chance to climb to the summit on goal difference if they beat Ross County by at least three goals on Wednesday, something the Gers have only achieved five times in their last 22 meetings.

Nevertheless, Clement's men will be confident of claiming maximum points having beaten the Staggies in each of their last five league encounters as well as each of their last eight matches at Ibrox.

Ross County, meanwhile, have never celebrated victory over Rangers in their top-flight history in 20 previous attempts, losing 16 of their last 17 such clashes.

The Staggies head into Wednesday's contest in miserable form having failed to win any of their last nine matches in all tournaments, most recently suffering a heavy 5-0 defeat away against Motherwell.

That drubbing by the Steelman sparked the resignation of manager Derek Adams, who decided to abruptly end his third spell in charge of the club after overseeing just 12 games over a 79-day period, winning only twice in the process.

Ross County have since announced that assistant coach Don Cowie will take the reins on an interim basis, and although the 40-year-old has aspirations to become a manager, he has revealed that the Staggies "are not actively looking" for a permanent replacement just yet.

Cowie, who made over 190 appearances for Ross County as a player, is fully aware that he is in for a baptism of fire against Rangers, but he hopes to "steady the ship" and inspire his side to a positive result at Ibrox.

Rangers Scottish Premiership form:

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Rangers form (all competitions):

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Ross County Scottish Premiership form:

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Ross County form (all competitions):

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Team News

Rangers quartet Abdallah Sima (thigh), Danilo (knee), Kieran Dowell (knock) and Kemar Roofe (knock), all remain sidelined with injuries, while Leon Balogun will be assessed ahead of kickoff having missed the last two games with a facial injury.

Dujon Sterling is available for selection after serving a suspension last time out, although he is unlikely to displace either James Tavernier or Borna Barisic at full-back, while Ryan Jack, Nicolas Raskin and Mohamed Diomande could all retain their places in midfield.

January signing Oscar Cortes claimed the Man of the Match award on his full debut for Rangers last weekend and will hope to keep his place on the left flank, while Todd Cantwell will be pushing to start ahead of Scott Wright on the right, as Silva and Cyriel Dessers battle for a start up front.

As for Ross County, Scott Allardice, Ross Callachan (both knee), Ryan Leak, Dylan Smith (both ankle), Ross Laidlaw (calf), Connor Randall and Jack Baldwin (both unspecified) all remain sidelined with injuries.

The absence of Laidlaw will likely see George Wickens continue between the sticks, with Cameron Borthwick-Jackson set to start alongside Will Nightingale and Loick Ayina in the back three amid the club's injury crisis.

Yan Dhanda will hope to provide a creative spark in the number 10 role, but striker Jordan White is at risk of being replaced by Eamonn Brophy having not scored in any of his last nine appearances over the last two-and-a-half months.

Rangers possible starting lineup:

Butland; Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar, Barisic; Jack, Raskin; Cantwell, Diomande, Cortes; Dessers

Ross County possible starting lineup:

Wickens; Ayina, Nightingale, Borthwick-Jackson; Brown, Jenks, Loturi, Harmon; Dhanda; Brophy, Murray

We say: Rangers 2-0 Ross County

Rangers will be regarded as firm favourites to claim maximum points and will be motivated by the prospect of moving to the Premiership summit.

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