Rangers

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• Rangers' Djeidi Gassama has won more fouls (24) and had more touches in the opposing box (56) than any player in the Scottish Premiership this season, also completing a joint-high 15 dribbles.

• Rangers have won each of their last six league games and could win more in a row for the first time since February 2024 under Philippe Clement (9).

• Dundee have won both of their last two league matches, last winning three in a row in December 2025/January 2026.

• Rangers have won six of their last eight away games against Dundee in all competitions (D2), keeping five clean sheets in this period.

• Dundee are winless in 20 meetings with Rangers in all competitions (D4 L16) since a 2-1 league victory in November 2017.

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Graeme Souness pinpointed the arrival of Terry Butcher as the signing that ignited his trophy-laden reign at Rangers.

The centre-back left Ipswich Town to join the Govan club in 1986, the same year former Liverpool and Scotland captain Souness became manager at Ibrox.

Butcher was a pivotal figure during Souness' tenure, with the former England captain leading the team on the pitch to three league titles in four seasons.

"When we got Terry Butcher, that really meant we were on our way," Souness told BBC Radio Scotland.

"We had signed an England captain. Both Tottenham and Manchester United wanted him, you know? What a statement that was."

Souness managed Rangers during the early stages of one of the most dominant spells in Scottish football, as the club began a run of nine consecutive league titles.

That success was helped by the calibre of players Souness was able to attract to the club.

"I had a stature which made it easy for me to get to the players," he added.

Despite the success he ultimately enjoyed at Ibrox, Souness also revealed that the Rangers job was much tougher than he had initially expected.

"When I turned up in Glasgow, I was thinking, I'm Scotland captain, I've been around big players and played at big football clubs, so this won't be anything too different," he said.

"And, boy, was I wrong. I mean, the west of Scotland is just a forest on fire 365 days a year."

Listen to Liverpool, Rangers and Scotland great Souness' full BBC interview on The Saturday Show this coming weekend

Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg says "good player" Connor Barron's lack of game time on loan from Rangers is because the 24-year-old midfielder is in the same boat as many summer signings who are only starting to break into Championship starting line-ups. (Northern Echo, external)

Former Rangers striker Duncan Ferguson is among the leading candidates to become Glentoran'snext manager. (Belfast Telegrah, external)

Former Rangers left-back Gregory Vignal, who has previously worked in the Ibrox club's academy and with Dundee, wants to be a manager in his adopted home of Scotland after the 45-year-old recently left his role as Blackburn Rovers Under-21 boss. (Daily Record, external)

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

"Nothing on the pitch looks a problem" for in-form Ryan Naderi, believes former Rangers midfielder Kevin Thomson.

The 23-year-old is enjoying his best run of form for the Ibrox side since joining last winter, scoring a brace in Saturday's 3-1 win over Kilmarnock.

The Czech Republic striker has now scored six goals in 12 games this season.

"He's a handful. Talking about desire earlier, that's what he is. A desire, a willingness to run, probably a brilliant team-mate," Thomson said.

Speaking on The Breakdown podcast, he added: "Nothing on the pitch looks a problem for him. Technically, not an absolute baller as such, but when it comes to effectiveness...

"The good thing is, as you would like for any striker, is he's always in the middle of the sticks, he gives himself that chance, his header comes from that."

Rangers are under no pressure to sell centre-back Olwethu Makhanya in the next 12 months, but the 22-year-old South Africa defender is attracting of interest from Italy and Spain while Brentford and Sunderland had scouts at Saturday's win over Kilmarnock. (Football Insider)

Rangers midfielder Vanja Dragojevic and fellow summer arrival Makhanya have been highlighted as players with the greatest potential in a new study by TransferRoom, which gives clubs live market intelligence to aid recruitment. (The Herald)

Former Celtic, Hibernian and Scotland forward Derek Riordan has revealed he could have signed for Rangers twice, but the Ibrox club refused to offer enough money. (Daily Record)

Rangers academy centre-half David Odunukan, who was born in London but moved to Scotland as an infant, is being considered for a call-up by England after the 15-year-old was involved in Scotland Under-16 training camps. (Daily Record)

Rangers medical staff have given Dujon Sterling the all-clear to feature against Dundee on Saturday after being struck down with illness before the weekend win over Kilmarnock. (Daily Record)

Read the rest of Wednesday's gossip.

Jamie Currie
Fan writer

I was apprehensive about the Kilmarnock match, in all honesty. The nonsensical international break has previous for destroying a Rangers team's momentum in the past.

However, those pre-match nerves were gone by the time Ryan Naderi headed past Callum Ferrie, and it was job done by half-time.

The first-performance was excellent; the press was co-coordinated and helped start attacks. The freedom of the front four was interesting - both wingers played further inside like a box to gain width from the full-backs.

Even when Killie had the ball in the first period, Rangers were comfortable in their own skin - sitting in their shape and ready to spring into attacking action.

Second half was below par, however, I'd let them off with that as the game was won before half-time. Considering they hadn't played together in three weeks, I was surprised the game was so comfortable.

They have to show the first-half levels against Dundee on Saturday. But it was imperative we followed up the Celtic results with another victory.

We look to be in good form at the minute. Every player knows their job. And as sore as losing out on Europe was, it looks like we are benefiting from the consistency of selection.

At this point last season after eight matches we had nine points and just one win.

We're 10 points better off and we look to have a clear philosophy, and one that everyone seems comfortable with and one that's bringing results.

Furthermore, the underlying numbers are interesting: 11 goals scored from the eight games and the xG is 18. We are creating chances, but you have to hope the two strikers along with the wide men to start converting more chances into goals.

Overall, we're in a positive place we just have to make sure we continue winning at Dens Park against a Dundee side who are doing well. It won't be an easy fixture but it's one we must get three points from to keep the feel good factor alive.

Watch the Sportscene panel discuss Rangers' performance levels in the first and second half of their 3-1 victory over Kilmarnock. Available to UK users only.

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Rangers have no transfer plans for January unless manager Derek McInnes identifies an issue that forces the club into the market. (Glasgow Times, external)

Rangers not being involved in Europe gives them a "big advantage" in the title race, according to Celtic manager Martin O'Neill. (Scottish Sun, external)

Former referee Bobby Madden reckons VAR could not have intervened in Rangers striker Kevin Kelsy's goal against Kilmarnock amid handball claims since there was no "clear footage" of the incident. (So Near so VAR via Daily Record, external)

Watch the best of the action from Ibrox as Rangers extend their winning run to seven games with a 3-1 victory over Kilmarnock. (Available to UK users only)

We asked for your views after Rangers beat Kilmarnock 3-1 to move one point clear of Celtic at the top of the table.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Ronnie: It's brilliant to be top of the league after our shocking start. The 3-0 half-time scoreline flattered us despite being the better side. The second half was a shocker, have they not heard of goal difference or momentum? We were beyond poor and fortunate Kilmarnock didn't get more than their consolation goal. Rangers fans want 90 minutes of effort not 45.

Derek: Pretty lacklustre win. What happened to the fast-flowing football in the last two games? 3-1 actually flattered us. Had Killie been more clinical, it may well have been a different story. Kevin Kelsy should have been hooked long before he was. Three points and top of the league will do nicely.

Sally: Ryan Naderi is awkward, gangly and always looks unbalanced but his work ethic, determination and nuisance value to defenders is outstanding! James Penrice, Djeidi Gassama and Nico Raskin were not at their best. Good team performance after a lengthy break.

Robert: A good win after such a long break, Derek McInnes is correct, this idea is not right. Three goals, three points, top of the league. Still not at our full potential, but getting there, well done.

Mark: Gassama is too hot and cold, he should have been off at half-time. Midfield again playing too many passes backwards, they have to be brave on the ball. We're lucky Kilmarnock didn't score more.

Steve: If Kilmarnock had taken the chances they were given, we could've lost 4-3. Despite the scoreline Rangers were lucky today. We have to keep going for 90 minutes or other teams will punish us.

The agent for Algeria winger Fares Ghedjemis, who has now signed a contract extension with Frosinone, has revealed both Celtic and Rangers made moves for the 24-year-old during the summer transfer window. (The Herald, external)

Former defender Lex Baillie, now 60, has revealed that some of his father's Rangers-supporting friends stopped speaking to him after he signed for Celtic, father Doug having played for the Ibrox club. (The Herald, external)

Chief executive Neil Doncaster has revealed that the Scottish Professional Football League hopes to reintroduce away fans to matches between Celtic and Rangers "as soon as possible". (The National, external)

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Rangers reached the Scottish Premiership summit for the first time this season and extended their league winning run to six games with victory over bottom side Kilmarnock.

Read the match report

Have your say

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Rangers manager Derek McInnes: "The job today was to win the game.

"Eight of my starting XI were away travelling [on international duty]. I didn't want to mess about with the team being in such good form. The job was done well for enough spells, but we looked like a team that hadn't been together for a while.

"The break is too long for me and it impacts on clubs when there's so many away.

"Three good goals, my strikers scoring and we still created some chances in the second half even though we looked a bit lethargic.

"The players deserve a lot of credit. Seven wins in a row and top of the league - we've got to feel good about ourselves."

Rangers vice-chairman Paraag Marathe says the club have adopted a short-term approach to push defending champions Celtic for the Scottish Premiership title. (Record - subscription required, external)

Cheltenham forward Charlie McCann feels he should have stuck it out longer at Rangers, having rejected a contract extension to stay at Ibrox three years ago. (Sun, external)

Saturday's Scottish gossip

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Scottish Premiership player of the month Olwethu Makhanya is buoyed by praise and advice from Rangers legend Richard Gough after starting his Ibrox career impressively.

The South Africa defender, 22, joined in the summer from Philadelphia Union and has been a standout as Rangers have produced a six-game winning run to move second in the league and reach the League Cup semi-finals at Celtic's expense.

Former captain Gough, who grew up in South Africa, recently got in touch and Makhanya said: "We spoke a little bit on Instagram.

"I didn't know much about him as a player but I did some research and saw how successful he was for this club.

"He congratulated for me the way I have been playing and he happens to be an old friend of my agency.

"Before he even reached out to me, I knew about him and he was telling me about his own journey.

"He gave me advice on what to keep doing and all of that. To hear from him meant a lot to me."

Makhanya, who was on duty with his country during the international break, says he's revelling in being part of such a big club and regards the pressure of expectation to deliver as a "privilege".

As Rangers eye top spot with victory over Kilmarnock on Saturday, the centre-back said: "For me to be part of this club is a dream come true. I've always wanted to play at this level. Being here for me is really unreal and a huge blessing.

"It's always good to get individual recognition but football is a team sport and I feel like I was able to get this award because of everyone around me.

"Obviously, right now we're in a good run of form so I feel like we're heading in the right direction. For us now, it is just to keep on doing the things that are working for us.

"I feel like I'm able to embrace everything that I go through now.

"The pressure and everything. A younger me would maybe fall under the pressure but now I understand that pressure is a privilege, especially playing for such a big club with all the expectation, I just always try and make sure I'm in a good space mentally."

• Rangers have won their past five league games, conceding just one goal in the process. They could win four successive league matches without conceding for the first time since December 2024.

• After losing their first four league games of the season, Kilmarnock have since avoided defeat in three (W1 D2).

• Rangers have won their past five league meetings with Kilmarnock, scoring 3+ goals each time.

• Kilmarnock have lost 10 consecutive league visits to Ibrox since a 1-1 draw in March 2019 under Steve Clarke.

• Rangers have won 15 of their past 17 top-flight home matches against sides starting the day bottom of the table (D1 L1), including eight in a row since a 1-0 defeat to Hamilton in March 2020.

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Pressure returns for both Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic and second-top Rangers after the three-week international break, former Celtic and Hibernian midfielder Scott Allan has suggested.

Rangers narrowed the gap with the reigning champions to two points after their 1-0 win over Martin O'Neill's side last month and Allan recognises why Ibrox counterpart Derek McInnes has been left frustrated by the wait for another game.

"Rangers were definitely off the back of building some huge momentum," he told the BBC Scottish Football Podcast.

"If you're a player in that Rangers dressing room at the start of season, you look at the deficit you had to Celtic so early on, then it just shows you when you build that run of games where you go on a winning streak, how you can close the gap.

"And they've done it with some really good performances against Celtic in the cup and Celtic in the league. The pressure will go on Celtic if Rangers are to overcome Kilmarnock."

Allan suggested McInnes had built a "siege mentality, everybody's against us" and also added some quality players after Rangers' poor start to his tenure.

"That's not to say they're a great brand of football, they're not, but they've found that way - having real athleticism on the team now," he said.

However, Allan thought that, having beaten Celtic twice in quick succession, the pressure was on to prove they have "that consistency" against other teams after the international break.

Then again, if Rangers go top with a win at Rugby Park, the spotlight switches to O'Neill's side away to Motherwell on Sunday "because all eyes are on Celtic at this moment".

The chances of Celtic or Rangers reignited their interest in Fares Ghedjemis appear to have ended after the 24-year-old winger signed a contract extension with Frosinone until 2030 after the club promoted to Serie A slapped an £18m price tag on the Algeria international. (Glasgow Times, external)

Rangers will be able to land Excelsior centre-back Casper Widell for a fee of less than £2m in January if they remain interested as the 23-year-old is out of contract next summer. (Football Insider, external)

Bolton Wanderers centre-half Ben Davies is grateful for experiencing Champions League, Europa League and cup finals with Rangers but wishes it was a more successful time for the team. (Bolton News, external)

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.