Rangers tipped for promotion by Sky Sports' Andy Walker
Monday 4 May 2015 14:21, UK
Sky Sports' Scottish football expert Andy Walker is tipping Rangers to come through six play-off matches and book a ticket for Premiership football next season.
After another season of trauma and tension both on and off the pitch in Govan, the Light Blues are now preparing to tackle Queen of the South in Dumfries on Saturday May 9, with the return at Ibrox eight days later.
The winner will then face Hibernian, who were runners-up to Hearts, over two matches before a final match-up with the team that finishes 11th in the Premiership - currently Motherwell - to decide who will grace the top flight next August.
Walker told the Morning View on Sky Sports News HQ: "Rangers are now facing a two-legged affair at the weekend against Queen of the South and that will not be easy by any means. Despite their lowly status, Queens have beaten Rangers twice already this season.
I think it is going to be a great battle but I see Rangers doing it.
"Rangers lost two goals in the last 10 minutes at Tynecastle which was a blow. Lee McCulloch was on the bench but I am sure he will have a big part to play in the play-offs but having the likes of the excellent Darren McGregor in their defence will give then a big boost going into these games.
"Don't be surprised if Queens surprise one or two people but having said that, surely Rangers have got the experience and the players to navigate their way through a two-legged match against Queen of the South and then they have got to play Hibernian; that's going to be really tight and could go either way.
'Resources'
"I think Rangers have got the players who can rise to the occasion and come through six games. It looks as though they will play against Motherwell. I think it is going to be a great battle but I see Rangers doing it."
Inverness manager John Hughes was named the SPFL manager of the year on Sunday and while Walker admitted that Hughes would not have been his pick he paid fulsome tribute to the Caley Thistle chief.
He said: "Robbie Neilson would have been my choice for manager of the year because he has come up against a Rangers side with enormous resources.
"He has got a good group of young players who already have experience of the Premiership but for them to have played a terrific brand of football and to have been as consistent as they have been speaks volumes for how Hearts have gone about their business since coming out of administration.
"I think the shortlist was pretty strong with Ronny Deila, Derek McInnes and Neilson and but I think Hughes has got it because he works with such modest resources and works with a club that is pretty detached.
"They play a great style of football and Hughes is a big part of that and they now have a Scottish Cup final to look forward to; for them to win a trophy this season will be huge boost for Inverness and for Hughes."
