McCoist eyeing Old Firm cheer

Rangers manager Ally McCoist is hoping a victory over Celtic on Sunday will give the embattled club’s supporters a much needed boost (Rangers 5/2, draw 5/2, Celtic 10/11 – match prices with bet365).

Matters off the pitch at Ibrox have dominated the headlines in recent weeks, with the very existence of the club in question after tumbling into administration last month.

The 10-point deduction imposed by the SPL for calling in the administrators as well as a slump in form means Rangers’ advantage over third-placed Motherwell has been wiped out, with the Glasgow giants only remaining in second courtesy of goal difference (Motherwell 1/10 SPL outright without Celtic and Rangers with bet365).

Should Motherwell beat Kilmarnock on Saturday, Rangers will drop down into third place, an almost inconceivable thought in a league that has been dominated by the Old Firm for nearly three decades.

However, an even less palatable thought for Rangers fans is that bitter rivals Celtic could clinch the title at Ibrox on Sunday with a victory should ‘Well fail to win 24 hours previously.

McCoist is keen to put the off-field turmoil and league permutations to one side and simply give the suffering supporters something to cheer after a traumatic few weeks.

“We’ve had problems with injuries and suspensions, but we believe we can win on Sunday,” said McCoist. “We want to give the fans something to shout about.

“They have been fantastic in the past few weeks and I’m sure they will be again.”

McCoist keeps faith in Gers

Rangers boss Ally McCoist has called on supporters to get behind the club and help them out of their current predicament after the SPL champions were deducted ten points (Gers 4/1, Kilmarnock 7/1, draw 15/4 – match betting with bet365).

The lead up to Saturday’s clash with Kilmarnock has been perhaps the worst in the history of the club after they were plunged further into financial crisis by entering administration.

As a result of going into administration, Rangers were hit with a ten-point penalty which leaves them 14 points behind league leaders Celtic and with little hope of catching up.

Having already been dumped out of the Scottish FA Cup and League Cup it looks set to be a trophyless season at Ibrox, although bigger concerns are likely to remain off the pitch.

McCoist is hoping that a win over Kilmarnock (10/3 League Cup outright) on Saturday in front of what is likely to be a 50,000 sell out at Ibrox will lift the gloom a little, although it might hard to get some of his players up for the clash in the knowledge they could be made redundant next week.

The Gers boss has called on supporters and players alike to try and help the club up from he believes is the worst position Rangers have ever found themselves in.

“We are in a position at this moment in time where the club is maybe as low as it has been – possibly ever,” McCoist told Sky Sports News.

“We have to put our trust and our faith in getting the club to a better place and the future will hopefully provide that.

“We all have to believe and have faith and hopefully we will all do that and the club will come out of this at the other end.”

McCulloch lauds Cousin signing

Rangers (5/1 SPL title outright with bet365) utility player Lee McCulloch believes the signing of striker Daniel Cousin could help the Ibrox side cut Celtic’s lead at the top of the SPL table.

The Gabon international previously played for the Gers in the 2007-8 season, scoring 11 goals in 28 appearances before moving to the Premier League to play for Hull.

The rangy forward is currently a free agent after being released from Sapins in his homeland and looks set to rejoin Ally McCoist’s men.

The Glasgow club are currently in the midst of an injury crisis and McCulloch, who usually plays in central midfield, was employed alongside David Healy in the Gers attack in Saturday’s 4-1 win at Dunfermline.

Rangers currently sit four points behind city rivals Celtic (1/8 SPL outright with bet365) in the table and McCulloch believes the introduction of Cousin could help them push on and retain their title.

“He’s an all-rounder. When he was here the last time he had everything,” said McCulloch. “I think the feeling in the dressing room was that he was the best all-round striker we had at that time.

“I just hope he hits the ground running. It’s a fresh face and it will give everybody a lift. The quality is there and he’s a nice guy to have around.”

Lennon warns over complacency

Celtic manager Neil Lennon believes the Scottish Premier League title race is still wide open ahead of their clash with Hearts on Wednesday (Hearts 4/1, draw 13/5, Celtic 7/10 with bet365).

The Hoops find themselves just a point ahead of Old Firm rivals Rangers, with a game in hand, and would go four points clear with a victory at Tynecastle.

Lennon has seen his players close down a monumental lead held by the blue half of Glasgow as a superb run, which has seen Celtic (1/5 – SPL Outright with bet365) without a loss in 15 SPL encounters, puts them in a strong position at the top of the table.

The Celtic Park outfit are in fine form but Lennon has called on his players to stay grounded ahead of the trip to the Scottish capital.

He said: “Rangers are the champions and they are the champions for a reason.

“We have to take on all the challenges that come our way and overcome them as best we can.

“There will be no room for complacency here and anyone showing that will be not playing.”

Kayal blow for Bhoys

Celtic have been handed a major blow ahead of their Scottish Cup tie with Peterhead with the news that midfielder Beram Kayal could miss up to four months as he requires ankle surgery (Peterhead 16/1, draw 8/1, Celtic 1/12 with bet365).

The Israeli international picked-up the problem in the Bhoys 1-0 win over Rangers and, after receiving a second opinion, it has been confirmed he will need to undergo an operation.

The 23-year-old has become a key part of Neil Lennon’s side since joining in 2010 and is sure to be missed going into the business end of the season

The Parkhead club currently sit top of the SPL after the win against their bitter rivals and will be doing everything they can to claim their first title in four seasons (Celtic 4/11 SPL outright with bet365).

Losing Kayal could prove to be a major blow, but Lennon believes he has the strength in depth to cover his absence.

“We don’t know what the outcome of the surgery will be. There’s a possibility that he could be out for four months,” Lennon said.

“It would be a huge blow for me and the player and the club itself.

“But no-one likes to lose a player for a concerted period of time. We have been unfortunate with these injuries.”

McCoist retains title belief

Glasgow Rangers (2/1 SPL outright with bet365) boss Ally McCoist believes his side can still win the Scottish Premier League title despite losing to Old Firm rivals Celtic on Wednesday night.

The Ibrox outfit were on the wrong end of a 1-0 scoreline at Parkhead thanks to a second-half header from Joe Ledley, securing all three points for the Hoops.

Rangers now find themselves two points behind their fiercest rivals in the SPL table, despite holding a 15 point lead earlier in the campaign.

McCoist will now have to rally his troops as they get set to take on Motherwell at Ibrox on January 2 and the former Gers striker believes his side can still win the title (Rangers 1/3, draw 4/1, Motherwell 8/1 with bet365).

He said: “As manager of this football club, I have to believe [we can win the league] and I do believe.”

“If we get fresh blood in January that would be great, but if we don’t I certainly believe we can go on and win the title.

“But it will be very difficult, as it is to win any championship.”

Lennon plays down favourites talk

Celtic boss Neil Lennon has played down claims his side are favourites to win Wednesday’s Old Firm clash with Glasgow rivals Rangers (Celtic 10/11, Rangers 3/1, draw 12/5 Match Prices with bet365) at Parkhead, claiming ‘there’s not much in it’.

The Hoops go into the match on home soil boosted by an excellent run of form over the past two months in which time they have won eight Scottish Premier League games in a row to cut the Gers’ lead at the top from 15 points to just one ahead of this encounter.

And, while many expect Celtic to win the game and move two points clear of Ally McCoist’s men at the SPL’s summit (Celtic 4/7 SPL to Win Outright with bet365), Lennon has moved to issue some words of caution to avoid any complacency creeping in.

“I don’t think there is much between the teams,” said Lennon.

“Our form has been slightly better, but they’re the champions and they won the last one. There’s not much in it.”

He added: “We know we go top if we win and our focus is on winning the game.

“We want to make our home advantage count and keep the winning run going. That’s very important to the players.

“But Rangers are always dangerous opposition, regardless of timing. I don’t think the mentality will change for either team for this game.”

Davis unconcerned by Hoops’ form

Rangers midfielder Steven Davis believes form will count for nothing when they face Celtic in Wednesday’s Old Firm clash at Celtic Park (Celtic 10/11, Rangers 3/1, draw 12/5 – Match Prices with bet365).

The Gers are set to face their bitter rivals with just a one-point lead at the top of the SPL standings and need to draw the game to prevent the Hoops beginning 2012 on top of the table (Rangers 5/4 SPL Outright).

The fact that the two clubs are so close in the standings seems incredible given that the blue half of the city was 15 points ahead of their rivals just a couple of months ago and seemingly on course for a 55th title and fourth in a row.

But Celtic have been on a sensational run and have won eight successive matches, while Rangers’ form has dipped slightly, culminating in defeat to St Mirren on Christmas Eve.

Everything points to a home win and Celtic are the clear favourites in the market but Davis has been around long enough to know that the form book is more often than not thrown out of the window when the two giants of Scottish football go head-to-head.

“Ever since I’ve been at the club, there hasn’t been a lot between the two teams and Old Firm games are on a knife-edge,” he said. “I don’t see this one being any different.”

However, the Northern Ireland international did concede that home advantage could be key as Neil Lennon’s men have won eight out of 10 games on their own patch this term.

McCoist wary over complacency

Rangers boss Ally McCoist has insisted he will be taking nothing for granted when his side travel to Rugby Park to take on Kilmarnock on Sunday (Kilmarnock 13/2, draw 16/5, Rangers 4/9 with bet365).

The Old Firm outfit have seen their healthy lead at the top of the SPL table cut down by arch-rivals Celtic (1/4 Scottish League Cup Outright with bet365) in recent weeks and will be determined to pick up all three points on Sunday.

Gers have good memories of the Killie ground where they wrapped up the title last season, with a 5-1 scoreline to send former manager Walter Smith off in style.

Now it’s McCoist’s turn to try and secure the win over Kilmarnock and the former Rangers striker is refusing to take his opponents on Sunday lightly.

He said: “They are definitely a team who are capable of that, there is no doubt about that. They play high on confidence and they can play well and score goals.

“They are a match for anybody in the league.

“As great a day as it was for us, the final day of last season, I’ve been at Kilmarnock and I know they are very proud people and it’s a proud club and they wouldn’t have enjoyed that.”

Jelavic sure of title glory

Rangers striker Nikica Jelavic is in no doubt about the destination of the SPL title this season and believes that the current gap is already big enough to ensure a fourth success on the bounce (Rangers 1/3 favourites, Celtic 9/4 Tournament Outright).

Ally McCoist was handed a huge blow when top-scorer (at the time) Steven Naismith was ruled out for the rest of the season at the start of the month, but Jelavic (6/5 favourite SPL Top Goalscorer with bet365) took his league tally to nine, alongside his club-mate, with a brace against Dundee United.

And that 3-1 win ensured the Gers maintained the 12-point advantage going into the international break, although Celtic do have a game in hand.

“I am delighted and very satisfied with the way this season is going,” Jelavic said.

“I am playing well and so are the team. We seem to score in every game.

“Of course, we need to keep it going and stay in first place.

“But I think the 12-point lead we have on Celtic should be enough to do that.”

Rangers will host St Johnstone on the return to SPL duty on November 19 before travelling to Kilmarnock the following weekend.