Recent Form
Rangers are in dire need of a tonic after a trio of defeats, losing twice to Malmo in Champions League qualifiers and to Dundee Utd in the league.
A clash with Championship outfit Dunfermline represents a welcome opportunity to get back on track, especially with Peter Grant’s team suffering their own setback in their last fixture as they were brushed aside 3-0 at home to Partick Thistle.
Rangers’ defence was a consistent source of strength last term, but having conceded five times across their past three outings, questions are beginning to be asked.
However, they’ve still scored at least twice in three of four competitive outings so far this season, as well as twice in pre-season friendlies with both Arsenal and Real Madrid, so the attack still appears to be in good shape.
The Gers have netted at least three times in six of nine League Cup matches under Steven Gerrard, with each exception coming against Premiership outfits in the shape of Aberdeen, Livingston and Celtic.
Four of these clashes featured a minimum of four goals, including both last term as they thumped Falkirk 4-0 before unexpectedly going down 3-2 to St. Mirren.
Over 3.5 Goals
Home advantage should also help Rangers run riot and they’ve scored twice at a minimum in 22 of 30 games at Ibrox since the start of last season in all competitions, and three or more in 15 of these.
Up against inferior opposition and with a point to prove, it would be a surprise if they can’t manage to net three at an absolute minimum here.
Peter Grant likes to implement an expansive brand of football and there’s been plenty of goals in Dunfermline’s fixtures this term at both ends.
Five of six outings have seen at least three, while four of them featured a minimum of four, as they’ve netted 15 of their own and shipped 10 down the other end.
Admittedly, the visitors may well struggle to keep up their output when taking on Rangers, but having failed to register a single clean sheet so far this season, there should be plenty of opportunities for Steven Gerrard’s side to vent their frustration.
The most recent meeting between these two sides saw Rangers run out 6-0 winners back in 2017, and although Dunfermline will be wary of going toe-to-toe with a vastly better side, they’ll have to come out and play when the inevitable breakthrough comes.
Gerrard will undoubtedly shuffle the pack with a Europa League tie with Armenian side Alashkert now coming up, but he can bring the likes of Kemar Roofe, Ianis Hagi, Glen Kamara and recent signing Fashion Sakala into the side, so he’s hardly without decent options to overwhelm the porous visitors.
RANGERS V DUNFERMLINE ATHLETIC ODDS AVAILABLE HERE
18+BeGambleAware
ODDS ARE CORRECT AS OF 13/08/2021 HOWEVER ARE SUBJECT TO FLUCTUATIONS
