It’s not often you will see Rangers not odds on to beat Motherwell at Ibrox but, of course, times have changed and the Old Firm outfit will have their work cut in their Scottish Communities League Cup third round tie on Wednesday (Rangers 7/4, draw 12/5, Motherwell 7/4 – Match Betting).
Rangers have made a mixed start to life in the Scottish Third Division but they remain unbeaten in the league and their home form, as you would expect, has been formidable with three wins from three.
The Gers faithful have not let their club down in their hour of need and, amazingly, over 45,000 fans showed up over the weekend for their 4-1 hammering of Montrose.
It’s this support that the home side will need if they are to cause what would be classed as an upset against Motherwelll and it will indeed be a win for the underdog if Rangers can progress, according to manager Ally McCoist.
The former Scotland striker says ‘Well are the favourites for Wednesday night’s encounter and for good reason, with the Steelmen sitting pretty at the top of the Scottish Premier League table.
That’s a position Rangers know all too well but McCoist does still have players at the Old Firm outfit who can cause the Motherwell defence problems.
Much will rest on the fitness of midfielder Ian Black, as the home side are struggling with a few injuries to key personnel.
Top goalscorer Andy Little and former Hearts winger David Templeton are out with a foot and ankle injury respectively, so McCoist will have to shuffle his pack.
As for the visitors, manager Stuart McCall has no new injury problems following his side’s 3-3 draw with Aberdeen over the weekend.
The Motherwell boss will be looking to field a strong side, with the opportunity of a rare win at Ibrox on the cards.
However, McCall’s side looked very sloppy at the back against the Dons at Pittodrie and that will be an area Rangers will look to capitalise on.
This should be a very competitive and close encounter but, backed by their fanatical home support and against a potentially suspect defence, Rangers might just edge this one at Ibrox (10/1 – Rangers 2-1 correct score).
In Wednesday’s other Scottish League Cup encounter, Aberdeen, who will be buoyed by their late comeback against the SPL leaders, travel to East End Park to take on Dunfermline (Dunfermline 2/1, draw 12/5, Aberdeen 13/10 – Match Betting).
With Jim Jefferies at the helm, the Pars have a manager with plenty of experience in the top tier of Scottish football and his side, who sit in second place in the First Division, are capable of causing an upset.
However, the Dons who, despite playing out draws in all four of their last four outings in the SPL, have plenty of firepower and, with the likes of Scott Vernon and Josh Magennis in attack, they should have too much for Dunfirmline (2/1 – Aberdeen 2-0 correct score).
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