RangersMedia

Alex Sked: Rangers FC v. St. Johnstone Monday, 01 February 2010 16:16 Written by Nvager

Rangers versus St. Johnstone in the Semi Final of The Scottish League Cup at Hampden Park, Glasgow on Wednesday February 3rd., 2010. Kick-Off 7:35 PM.

A break from the SPL and a chance to progress into the first Cup Final of the 2009/10 season. We want to win the treble and to do so we must win this game. It will also boost the squad to have a Cup Final to look forward to.

Once again we find ourselves with injury problems and Bougherra will not be available until the weekend as he is scheduled to return Thursday.

Walter has to carefully consider the team and maybe have an eye to resting some players and allowing others some needed playing time. Can he think about giving Alexander a game in goal? Steven Smith a start at LB? Giving Edu, if fit, or Ness a game in midfield? Wylde a chance on the wing? Keep faith in Lafferty up front?

My sense is that he will rest some players but not too many. He will freely use substitutes or at least more than normal if we build a lead.

I think he will play a team along the lines of Alexander, Whittaker, Weir, Wilson, Smith, Davis, McCulloch, Thomson, Wylde/Fleck, Lafferty and Novo/Naismith.

I do not believe Beasley, Miller and Edu will be fit for Wednesday, but all may return at the weekend although Beasley is taking ages to recover from his thigh tear/strain. Papac and Novo seemed to be struggling at the weekend and maybe they will both be rested.

Naismith and Smith both looked sharp on Saturday and both might start. If Naismith plays I hope it is up front with Lafferty.

My one concern is that with Mendes gone, we are in dire need of flair players (and wingers).

If Davis gets hurt who do we turn to? We need pace and that is why I hope Wylde gets another chance wide left as he looked very pacy when he got ten minutes or so versus Hearts.

St. Johnstone will fight hard as they have nothing to lose, but we should win this. Hopefullly Lafferty scores a goal and gets his confidence back. He sorely needs it.

My prediction is that we will win this game by at least 2 goals. More important is that we have no more injuries. We need to get through these next two cup ties in good shape and then in about three or four weeks we should be nearing full strength with everyone back from injury.

A win will put more pressure on Celtic as they will see us going into another Cup Final. We really need to do this. The more pressure on them the better.

Rangers 3 - 0 St. Johnstone is my prediction and I hope Lafferty scores a hat-trick and no-one gets injured. Most of all I would like to see us score early and often and allow Walter to blood Ness and Wylde. That would be a big boost all round.

Discuss this article further by clicking on the icon above to enter our forums