Rangers Return to Action: Kilmarnock Opposition Preview

Tomorrow afternoon, at 15:00 BST, Rangers will return to action for the first time since the back to back Old Firm wins three weeks ago, when they welcome Kilmarnock to Ibrox for match day eight of the Scottish Premiership season. 

It will be a special day for the gaffer, Derek McInnes, having managed Kilmarnock for three 1/2 years between January 2022 and May 2025, taking charge of 159 games, winning 61 of those. 

So, what can we expect from the visitors on Saturday? 

Safe to say, it has been a very disappointing start to the season so far for Kilmarnock, with just five points from their opening seven games, leaving them bottom of the league. That said, things have slightly picked up in the last two games, with a win away to Hibernian and a draw at home to Hearts. So, perhaps the ship has been steadied somewhat. 

Kilmarnock's manager is former Rangers player Neil McCann, who played for the club between December 1998 and August 2003. He joined in January of this year, and has won 13, lost 13 and drawn five of his 31 games in charge so far. 

Goals have been particularly hard to come by for 'Killie' this season, with just four goals in seven games. They have created 13 big chances, however, so creativity hasn't been an issue, it has more been about putting those chances away. 

In terms of dangermen, well Tom Lowery has created 3 of those big chances, and is someone who likes to get on the ball and make things happen from a deeper midfield role, so he is someone to keep an eye on for sure. 

Truth be told, however, there aren't too many players that can hurt Rangers and they will be the heavy, heavy underdogs for the game, as reflected in the betting odds. Rangers are 1/10, whilst the visitors are 14/1, so they are considered to have a 1 in 14 chance of winning the game. 

Still, it does not take a Kilmarnock win to undo some of the recent good work from Rangers. Even a draw would be incredibly frustrating, and would allow Celtic a chance to reopen up a gap that the team had worked very hard to narrow right down to just two points before the break. 

Potential Kilmarnock XI for the game at Ibrox on Saturday afternoon: Ferrie; Brandon, Stanger, McCarthy, Schjonning-Larsen; Ring, Rice, Lowery, Kiltie; John-Jules, Hugill. (442).