Rangers boss Derek McInnes remains confident ahead of
Derek McInnes does not believe Rangers’ Viaplay Cup final loss will help Kilmarnock on their visit to Ibrox this weekend, saying he expects Michael Beale’s men to ‘go again’.
Gers and their fans are suffering after losing 2-1 to Old Firm rivals Celtic at Hampden Park on Sunday.
It was Michael Beale’s first defeat as boss after 15 games and the Govan side return to Premiership duty against Killie hoping to keep pressure on leaders Celtic, who are nine points ahead.
Killie are second bottom, four points ahead of Dundee United having played a game more, with boss McInnes admitting their away form in the league – with just two points from a possible 42 – has been ‘horrendous’.
Asked if the Old Firm defeat could have an affect on Rangers, McInnes, a former Gers midfielder, said: ‘I wouldn’t have thought so. It is a different competition, the nature of the club is they have to go again and that’s the way it is.
‘There will be disappointment but Rangers have been pretty consistent. Since Michael has come in they have had some good results and I expect Rangers to ask the questions of us, being at home, but I expect us to have the answers and hopefully deal with what’s coming and hopefully be good enough, use the experience we have had. Rangers’ attacking threat as a team has improved. I don’t think you saw that at its best on Sunday as a lot of the time the attacking players were doing a lot of work out of possession, given the opponent.
Morelos scored in cup final loss (Picture: Shutterstock)
‘We should expect Rangers to come at us but I want Rangers to come off the pitch having had a tough day.
‘It is a 90-plus minutes performance we need, 45 minutes doesn’t cut it at Ibrox.
‘You have got to be on it for the majority of the game and that is tough when you are surrendering a lot of possession at times and the opposition are asking questions, but we know that if we do so many things right we can also frustrate Rangers as well.’
McInnes noted that fellow strugglers Dundee United parted company with head coach Liam Fox following the 4-0 defeat at Ross County last Saturday.
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The Tannadice club also announced last night that sporting director Tony Asghar has left his role after more than four years in the position.
McInnes said about Fox: ‘It is disappointing when you see a manager leave, especially a younger one. Liam has been part of a coaching staff two or three times and played a key role.
‘It is tough but he is a good guy and will bounce back.’
MORE : Rangers fans are increasingly frustrated by lack of trophies over the past decade
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‘I want Rangers to come off the pitch having had a tough day.’