Rangers

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Philippe Clement says Wednesday's Dundee postponement was a "really bad advertisement" for Scottish football.

The game at Dens Park was called off after a second pitch inspection deemed the surface unplayable - making it the second time the clash between the sides has been put off.

"The Old Firm was a really good advertisement for Scottish football during the week," Clement said.

"There were so many people watching it, I hear it was even a record.

"Everybody was really positive about the game, the intensity, the scenario.

"It was a really positive thing for Scottish football then three days later it is a really bad advertisement for Scottish football and it could have been avoided by playing at another venue.

"Everybody knew what the situation was, the club didn't do the right things to have a decent football field and it's happened several times this season."

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Rangers manager Philippe Clement addressed the media today for the first time since his side's Scottish Premiership fixture with Dundee was postponed for a second time.

Here are the key points:

• Rangers offered to play the twice postponed game today but their offer was rejected.

• If Dens Park is unable to stage the match then the game may be played behind closed doors.

• The manager has been told that he will know where the rearranged fixture will take place by 12:00 BST on Tuesday 16 April.

• Clement joked that his side will "play the game on Mars" if asked to and that postponement "could've been avoided by playing at another venue".

• This has interrupted the players' busy schedule. His players were previously given two days off this month but will now have just one.

• The Rangers boss does not blame Dundee manager Tony Docherty nor his players for the postponement. He recognises that this has inconvenienced both sets of players.

• Mohamed Diomande will miss Sunday's trip to Dingwall to face Ross County. He has had an operation on a thumb injury sustained during last weekend's Old Firm derby. The manager insists this is not a long-term injury.

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After their game against Dundee was postponed yet again, Rangers travel to Dingwall to take on a Ross County side who have just two wins in their last 10.

Who would you like to see start for Philippe Clement's side?

Put yourself in the manager's shoes and pick your starting XI here.

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• Ross County have lost 11 of their 13 home games against Rangers in all competitions, with the only times they’ve avoided defeat at home coming in November 2016 (1-1) and January 2022 (3-3).

• Rangers are unbeaten in all 24 of their previous meetings with Ross County across all competitions (W20 D4) and have never faced an opponent more often without losing in their history.

• Ross County are unbeaten in four home league games (W2 D2), their longest run since going seven without defeat from January to April 2022.

• Rangers have won 11 of their last 13 away league games (D1 L1), including each of their last four in a row.

• Rangers’ James Tavernier has scored 49 penalties in the Scottish Premiership. Since the competition was rebranded in 2013, this is 33 more than the nearest player for penalty goals (Adam Rooney, 16).

Rangers are one of the clubs hoping to sign £3.4m-rated 26-year-old Standard Liege keeper Arnaud Bodart, who previously interested Celtic, amid the possibility that Jack Butland could leave Ibrox this summer. (Sudinfo), external

Hibernian have voiced strong objections to the SPFL as they believe Dundee have gained a sporting advantage in the race for a top-six finish after their Scottish Premiership game against Rangers was postponed until after the Edinburgh side's final game before the split. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip

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Rangers say they expect the SPFL "to take proportionate and decisive action" in relation to the postponement of their rearranged fixture with Dundee.

The Ibrox club have also accused Dundee of "negligence and unprofessionalism" after their league match was called off again because of a waterlogged pitch.

The Dens Park surface passed an inspection at 11:00 BST but heavy rainfall rendered it unplayable after another check at 15:30.

Rangers' statement in full reads: "The negligence and unprofessionalism demonstrated by Dundee, where they have repeatedly breached SPFL rules, continues to have a damaging effect on the top professional league in the country.

"In a week where record TV viewing figures were recorded for a match in the same competition, and this game due to be televised again by Sky Sports, this episode is deeply embarrassing and has also been eminently avoidable.

"Rangers expects the SPFL to take proportionate and decisive action in accordance with its rules, and the club will continue to make representations to them in the strongest possible manner.

"The club has been repeatedly putting forward solutions to the SPFL, which have not been taken up. It has again proposed a solution to the preparation and execution of this rescheduled fixture and is awaiting a response from the SPFL.

"As things stand, the rescheduled match will be on Wednesday, 17 April at 20:00 BST. The club considers that this matter has been handled incorrectly throughout by both Dundee and the SPFL.

"At this time, we sympathise fully once again with our supporters, approximately 4,000 of whom were looking forward to attending.

"Having already been left hugely inconvenienced and out of pocket by the first postponement last month, it is entirely unacceptable and disrespectful on the part of Dundee to have allowed this situation to have developed again."

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Kieran Dowell is hoping to “show the best” of himself in a Rangers shirt having returned from long-term injury in Sunday’s chaotic Old Firm derby.

The 26-year-old midfielder was brought on as a second-half substitute to make his first appearance since early January.

Sunday’s derby was just his 12th game for Rangers since signing from Norwich last summer, but a return to fitness has Dowell "chomping at the bit now to make an impression" in an absorbing season finale.

"I feel good, I feel fit so hopefully have a good end to the season," he added. "You don't realise how much you actually miss it when you are injured.

"Personally, it has been frustrating. I've had to stay positive a lot of the time. The lads have done really well since my recent injury so it's been good to be supporting them and I'm in a good place towards the end of the season."

Victory against Dundee on Wednesday, permitting the match goes ahead, will send Rangers two points clear at the top of the table.

And Dowell believes there is little margin for error if the Ibrox side are to claim top spot by the end of the campaign.

"We just focus on winning every game we can," he says. "It's just the way this league's gone this season. We're probably going to have to be close to maximum points to win the league."

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Rangers are prepared to sell Sam Lammers in a cut-price deal, with the forward currently on loan at Utrecht. (Football Insider), external

Manager Philippe Clement defends Rangers forward Fabio Silva following accusations of simulation, saying the criticism is "not justified" and comments: "In other teams I see players also going down a lot." (Sun), external

Clement challenges journalists to be a referee for 10 minutes, saying it is "an impossible job". (Scotsman - subscription), external

Injuries could mean Oscar Cortes and Ryan Jack have played their last games for Rangers. (Sun), external

Rangers are seeking a long-term solution to Jack's injury issues. (Herald - subscription), external

Anthony Galinski has joined Rangers as lead international scout after leaving Royal Antwerp. (Sun), external

Ross County interim boss Don Cowie insists Sunday's match against Scottish Premiership title chasers Rangers is not a free hit. (Press and Journal - subscription), external

Hearts could face a six-figure bill if they do not sell out their Scottish Cup semi-final allocation with around 5,000 tickets still available for the match against Rangers later this month. (Record), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip

Midfielder Ryan Howley returns to the Dundee squad after missing the weekend’s game against Motherwell while goalkeeper Trevor Carson has trained following a knee complaint.

Striker Curtis Main and midfielder Josh Mulligan (hamstring) are closer to fitness and will be assessed before the game while defenders Owen Beck (groin) and Lee Ashcroft (hamstring) and forward Diego Pineda (thigh) are still sidelined.

Rangers left-back Ridvan Yilmaz remains out and midfielder Ryan Jack has had a setback in his recovery from a calf problem. Forward Danilo (knee) and winger Oscar Cortes, who had surgery on a muscle injury, are likely to miss the rest of the season.

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Cyriel Dessers is confident Rangers can beat Celtic at Parkhead when the sides meet post-split.

Although they are yet to beat Celtic this season, Philippe Clement's side came from behind twice at Ibrox to earn a 3-3 draw on Sunday, and Dessers believes they just need a bit more luck in the the final Old Firm derby of the league season.

Rangers currently trail Celtic by one point, but can return to the top of the Scottish Premiership with a win against Dundee on Wednesday.

“We showed on Sunday we can score three goals against a good team and also in the previous two games, obviously we lost them, but I don’t think it was fully deserved," Dessers said.

“We showed we can hurt them and if we’re a little more lucky – like with the first goal – and we can take our moments then we can get a good win there.

“Obviously it is very close, like I said.

“I think we saw that quality-wise we are also very close to each other. But I hope after Wednesday that I can say that we are on top of the league.

“With the result and performance on Sunday, in the second half especially, that will give us a mental boost as well.

“So I hope we are slightly ahead. We will have to be ready from now until the last game, but I think we are.”

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Rangers manager Philippe Clement says his side's comeback in Sunday's Old Firm derby shows how far his players have grown this season.

Celtic took a 2-0 lead at Ibrox, before Rangers drew level in the second half. Adam Idah put Celtic back in front, but Rabbi Matondo's injury-time strike earned a point.

"There's [been] a big evolution," Clement said. "These are the same players that a few months ago could never do that.

"They have taken a lot of good lessons, and this needs to be a reference game for the rest of their career - this is the mentality you need to be a top player."

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Rangers manager Philippe Clement has been talking to the media before his side's Scottish Premiership trip to Dens Park on Wednesday.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• Described their early concession against Celtic on Sunday as "the biggest blow you can get", and says he "wasn't happy" with his team's first-half performance.

• However, thinks Rangers were the better team after the break and praised the way his players "never give up". Pointed to the fact it's the first time a team have come from two goals down in an Old Firm derby since 1987 - "my players did something really good".

• Says the comeback shows a "big evolution" in his playing squad, and insists they could not have done so a few months ago.

• Described the uncertainty over the Dens Park pitch as a "weird situation", and thinks it reflects poorly on Scottish football - "it's a bad situation for the league and Dundee".

• Clement praised Dundee, and expects "a big test" on Wednesday. "They go full in attack, create a lot of chances, and have a manager with a lot of fire inside him."

• Ridvan Yilmaz is still out, but it is "a matter of days" rather than weeks. There are no new injury concerns, but Ryan Jack has suffered a setback that could end the midfielder's season. The Belgian added there is a "big chance" Danilo and Oscar Cortes would also miss the rest of the current campaign.

Wow. We haven't seen an Old Firm match with such drama for a very long time.

The opening goal summed up a dreadful first half for Rangers. The right-hand side - occupied by James Tavernier and Scott Wright - was Celtic's best route to goal.

On that point, I do not think Wright should be starting in these matches. Sadly, I felt he was hiding in the first half.

Let's be honest here, in that first half Celtic should have been over the hill and out of sight, and should have been leaving Ibrox four points clear.

It was no surprise that we improved when Wright was replaced with Adallah Sima at half-time. He wanted the ball and wanted to make things happen, and deserved his goal.

I also cannot believe the chatter around the penalty award to Fabio Silva. There's clear contact, and for me, it's a clear penalty.

When Sima equalised, you felt Rangers could go on and win it, but to lose a goal in such cheap fashion with three minutes to go was incredibly disappointing.

Todd Cantwell was too weak in the tackle, Kieran Dowell left Paulo Bernardo in too much space, and Jack Butland should be getting his body behind that shot.

Following that, for Rangers to come back and draw level again must have been a sore one for Celtic.

I get they came to Ibrox and would have taken a point before the game, but they had the game in their grasp twice, and couldn't see it over the line.

With three minutes to go, Rangers were four points behind with a game in hand. Rabbi Matondo's curler means Rangers can go top with a win at Dens Park on Wednesday. Is it the outcome I wanted? No. But I will take it given how the game played out.

That Parkhead fixture after the split is the one everyone will be looking to now. Our record isn't great there, and that will have to change. But before then, we have to take care of business on Wednesday.

Dundee were drawing up another raft of contingency plans on Monday night, including a proposed Thursday night kick-off or switch to a neutral venue behind closed doors, as fears mounted their Wednesday match with Rangers might be washed out for a second time. (Daily Record), external

Dundee currently have no concerns about the likelihood of their match against Rangers being postponed for a second time due to the state of the Dens Park pitch, with the surface understood to have held up well after the game against Motherwell at the weekend. (The Herald), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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Romania midfielder Ianis Hagi's agent has confirmed that the 25-year-old, who has been linked with Galatasaray or an extended stay in Spain, will return to Rangers at the end of the season after an underwhelming loan spell with Alaves. (The Herald), external

Rangers are not keen on loaning Sam Lammers out again next season and would prefer a permanent sale for the 26-year-old, who is thriving at Dutch club Utrecht as an out-and-out striker. (Football Insider), external

Utrecht supporters have started a social media campaign to convince the Dutch club and Rangers to agree a permanent transfer for Sam Lammers following the forward's seven goals in 14 appearances on loan. (Scottish Sun), external

Celtic have submitted a letter to the Scottish FA seeking answers over Rangers' derby penalty and have raised concerns over the VAR footage studied by referee John Beaton. (Daily Record), external

An anticipated spike in hate crime reports around the Rangers-Celtic game has not materialised, according to a top police officer. (The National), external

Dundee were drawing up another raft of contingency plans on Monday night, including a proposed Thursday night kick-off or switch to a neutral venue behind closed doors, as fears mounted their Wednesday match with Rangers might be washed out for a second time. (Daily Record), external

Dundee currently have no concerns about the likelihood of their match against Rangers being postponed for a second time due to the state of the Dens Park pitch, with the surface understood to have held up well after the game against Motherwell at the weekend. (The Herald), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

Rangers head to Dens Park on Wednesday looking for a win that would take them top of the Scottish Premiership.

Who would you like to see start for Philippe Clement's side?

Put yourself in the manager's shoes and pick your Rangers XI here.

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• Rangers have won 11 points from losing positions in the Scottish Premiership this season, only Motherwell (18) and Kilmarnock (12) have recovered more.

• Rangers have scored in their last 27 games in the Scottish Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of 35 games from 22nd August 2020 to 31st July 2021.

• Celtic have scored in 28 of their 32 league games, only Rangers (29) have scored goals in more matches in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Daizen Maeda's goal was the fastest in the Scottish Premiership this season.