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Recommended bets
[RECOMMENDED_BETS]
St Mirren did knock Rangers out the League Cup last season, but their last 11 Premiership meetings have all gone the Gers’ way.
Rangers to win and over 2.5 goals is 11/10.
Rangers to win and both teams to score is 13/5.
James Tavernier is 9/2 to break the deadlock and 11/8 to score anytime.
Match preview
It was April Fools’ Day a week last Friday but, all jokes aside, Rangers’ season is starting to fall apart and could be all over come next Sunday.
Last weekend, the Light Blues took on bitter rivals and league-leaders Celtic at Ibrox, for a game the home side desperately needed to win.
This result moved the Hoops six points clear at the top of the Premiership and that gap could be nine by the time Rangers kick off in Paisley.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side didn’t have much time to mull over that defeat, travelling to Estádio Municipal de Braga on Thursday.
This was far a Europa League quarter-final first leg against Braga, in which Rangers’ week went from bad to worse with another defeat.
The Portuguese side scored the night’s only goal just before half time and, in truth, the visitors rarely threatened themselves throughout.
On the other hand, having only lost 1-0 away, Rangers are very much still in that tie with the second leg back in Glasgow to come this midweek.
After that, they’ll face Celtic again, this time at Hampden in the Scottish Cup semi-finals, in another pair of season-defining fixtures.
Before then, can the champions keep alive the flailing title hopes with a victory in Paisley?
As for St Mirren, it’s looking increasingly likely that they won’t be facing Rangers after this weekend’s split following a downturn in form.
Last weekend, they were beaten 4-2 at Motherwell, meaning the Buddies have now only won one of their last six, losing the other five.
After the game, new manager Stephen Robinson exclaimed his side are in a relegation battle with 11th placed St Johnstone just six points behind.
Despite this, the Saints could actually finish in the top six, but would need Saturday’s results to go their way and then win here.
Will Rangers get back to winning ways at the SMISA Stadium?
St Mirren team news
With the champions in town, Stephen Robinson could revert to a back five with Charles Dunne rejoining Joe Shaughnessy and Conor McCarthy at the back.
Former Rangers winger Jordan Jones, currently on loan from Wigan Athletic, could start against his former employers.
Like Jones, striker Eamonn Brophy has scored against Rangers before in famous wins during their time together at Kilmarnock.
He’ll lead the line again, chosen over Alex Greive who bagged his first two international goals for New Zealand during their recent matches.
Rangers team news
Alfredo Morelos’ season appears to be over after he picked up an injury away on international duty with Colombia.
In his absence, Kemar Roofe started against Celtic with Fashion Sakala getting the nod in Braga, but neither offered very much in both fixtures.
Aaron Ramsey, who scored in last Sunday’s Old Firm, then bizarrely didn’t even get off the bench on Thursday.
It’ll be interesting to see, given Rangers’ striker troubles, if he features here or is saved for the second leg.
Leon Balogun hobbled off against Braga so Filip Helander, who’s not in the UEFA squad, seems likely to start here.
Scottish Premiership table:
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