Rangers travel to the Falkirk Stadium tonight looking to back up their first league win of the season, with midfielder Nico Raskin handed a starting spot despite swirling speculation over his future at the club.
The Light Blues got off the mark at Pittodrie last time out, picking up three points against Aberdeen in what was a much-needed result after a stuttering start to the campaign. Manager Philippe Clement will be hoping his side can carry that form into tonight’s Scottish Cup tie against the Bairns.
All eyes will be on Raskin, who has been heavily linked with a move away from Ibrox in the current transfer window. The Belgian midfielder starting tonight suggests the club are not expecting any imminent departure, though supporters will be watching closely for any signs of a player with his mind elsewhere.
Falkirk come into the match still searching for their first win of the season, making this a game Rangers will be expected to dominate on paper. The Bairns have had a tough run of it so far and will be desperate to finally get that monkey off their back in front of their own fans.
But cup football has a habit of throwing up surprises, and Falkirk will fancy their chances of causing an upset against a Rangers side that has looked far from convincing this season. The home crowd will be right behind them from the first whistle, and that kind of atmosphere can make life very uncomfortable for any visiting team.
Rangers have struggled for consistency in the early weeks of the season, and questions continue to be asked about the squad’s depth and quality. The transfer window is still open, and the Raskin situation is just one of several ongoing sagas that have kept the Ibrox rumour mill spinning at full speed.
Clement has spoken about the need for focus despite the noise around the club, and picking Raskin tonight could be seen as a statement of intent, either that the player is going nowhere, or that the manager trusts him to do a professional job regardless of what is happening off the pitch.
For Falkirk, this is a massive occasion. Hosting Rangers always brings a buzz to the town, and the club will be hoping a strong performance can kickstart their season. A win would be one of the results of the round and would send shockwaves through Scottish football.
Their squad has shown glimpses of quality but have not been able to string together the kind of performance that earns points. Tonight, with the backing of a packed home support, they will give everything to change that.
Kickoff is this evening and the match is set to be one of the most watched fixtures of the midweek Scottish football schedule, with fans on both sides hoping for a statement result.