After an horrendous two weeks for Rangers fans everywhere, the rebuilding begins anew this weekend with the short trip to Firhill to face high-flying Partick Thistle.
Alan Archibald’s men are enjoying the club’s highest finish in over 30 years and will present a tough challenge to a demoralised Rangers, who need to keep winning to prevent their season verging off a cliff into complete disaster.
In third place in the Scottish Premiership table, Rangers are not far enough ahead of St Johnstone to be completely safe in third position.
It’s not just about that though; Pedro Caixinha needs to find the right blend in his team to carry his side into next season. Some players have just not been up to the task throughout this term and should be dropped in the wake of the woeful 5-1 defeat at home to Celtic.
Here are the THREE big changes Caixinha must make on Sunday…
Jak Alnwick in for Wes Foderingham
After two dismal displays in two weeks against Celtic, Wes Foderingham must be reminded that he’s not an automatic first pick at Rangers. Missing for crossed balls, poor distribution and unable to make it to Leigh Griffiths’ shot, Foderginham was a big part of the defeats against the Hoops.
In Jak Alnwick Rangers have a goalkeeper who was getting a regular game at League One side Port Vale before making the move to Ibrox. He’s young, ambitious and deserves a chance to show what he can do between the sticks for the Gers.
Learning his trade at Sunderland and Newcastle, he was a January arrival at the club, one of Mark Warburton’s last signings before departing.
He’s yet to make his debut but Sunday presents the perfect opportunity. Even if he’s not the long-term future, Pedro Caixinha should at least evaluate him a match setting.
David Bates in for Danny Wilson
David Bates was dropped at Ibrox in place of the experienced Clint Hill and while that was likely a smart move, bringing the teenager back in for a under-fire Danny Wilson seems like a good choice this Sunday. Wilson was all at sea for the majority of Celtic’s 5-1 win and we’re sure fans would be eager to see what Bates can do alongside the guidance of the 38-year-old.
If Bates is ever going to make it at Ibrox, he needs to learn his craft in the first team and we can barely think of a better teacher in Scotland that Hill, who has vast experience at the top level.
Initially looking shaky on his debut, Bates will now be able to play with the pressure off a little. Partick Thistle have attacking threat, but nothing that Rangers shouldn’t be able to handle.
It would also give Wilson a reminder he has lots of hard work ahead of him if he is going to remain a Rangers player.
Serge Atakayi in for Martyn Waghorn
Most Rangers fans would probably be glad to never see the likes of Martyn Waghorn and Joe Garner again such were the depths of their performances in the two matches against Celtic. Anonymous for most of the two fixtures, and in fact for most of the season, Waghorn has failed to build on the promise he showed last season in the Scottish Championship.
Serge Atakayi is a young attacker yet to make his debut for the Gers but who has been performing well for the club’s U20s side. Only 18, he started his career in Finland before signing on at Ibrox last summer. He was born in DR Congo but holds Finnish citizenship and has represented Finland at U19 level.
Before moving to Glasgow he was the youngest ever player to score in the Finnish top-flight and was obviously rated by Mark Warburton. Is Sunday finally the day he can make his mark on the first team?