Rangers v Kilmarnock match preview

Following last weeks scoreless Old Firm derby, the Rangers return to action against Kilmarnock two points behind Celtic.

For the match Walter Smith has a near full squad available to him as of new injuries, only Lee McCulloch will miss. DaMarcus Beasley who was hacked down in the Scottish League Cup against Forfar midweek, is ready.

Walter Smith said of the match:

"If you look at the game that we had with Kilmarnock in the early part of the season they went in to the lead and we had to work very hard to overcome them.

"I see this as being the same type of game. Home games have proved difficult for us when teams come and set their stall out to defend well.

"Credit to them, the majority of teams in Scotland have been doing that very well and it's only been occasionally when we've managed to get goals early on that games have really opened up.

"Kilmarnock are a team that have maybe had a bit of inconsistency in their results but they are always capable of getting a result against any team and they have made it awkward for us in the games we have played already."

The Rangers have defeated Kille in both of the meetings this year, 2-1 at Ibrox and 4-0 at Rugby Park and are very unlikely to let up in this match. With the race for the championship so close they must continue to press Celtic at every turn and capitalize on any opportunities.