Rangers vs Aberdeen. Scottish Premiership.
Ibrox StadiumAttendance48,647.
Wednesday 29 November 2017 18:57, UK
Rangers will attempt to close the gap on second-placed Aberdeen on Wednesday at Ibrox, live on Sky Sports Football from 7:30pm.
The manager-less Gers have lost successive top-flight games against Hamilton and Dundee, and face a tough test when Derek McInnes brings his Aberdeen side to Ibrox for the midweek clash.
McInnes' squad sit just three points behind leaders Celtic, having played a game more, and the 46-year-old former Rangers player claims there is "no fitter team in the league" as Aberdeen prepare for a second game in four days.
The Dons beat Kilmarnock on Sunday lunchtime while Rangers have had two extra days rest following their defeat at Dundee on Friday, but that does not concern McInnes, whose side boasts a clean bill of health for the trip.
"Rangers had an extra couple of days to prepare for this one, but it doesn't matter too much for us," the Aberdeen boss said. "There is no fitter team in the league.
"We're strong, we have good fitness levels as a squad and have everyone fit and available at the minute so we have a luxury to change things about and I always feel the strength of our squad helps us with this kind of schedule."
McInnes was installed as the early favourite to take the vacant manager's job at Ibrox before distancing himself from it, but is expecting a big occasion when the two sides meet despite Gers' poor recent form.
He said: "When the fixtures came out I'm sure both sets of players and the supporters will look at as one of the better fixtures and one to relish, and so they should.
"Playing in front of 50,000 is great for any player to show what they're about.
Meanwhile, Rangers caretaker boss Graeme Murty has shed light on the managerial situation in the build-up to the game.
"There has been movement but we're not quite there yet," he said. "I think that to get the next five, six, seven years right, we need to take our time now to get this appointment right.
"If we take a little bit more time now to get this appointment right, we actually get the next five years of progress and secure the future of this football club at the top of the league, and that's crucial."
Veteran Rangers defender Bruno Alves has been absent since the draw with Kilmarnock in October, but following a back complaint he has been cleared to play by Murty.
Lee Wallace (groin), Graham Dorrans (ankle) and Jordan Rossiter (knee) are all still sidelined through injury as Gers look to recover from back-to-back defeats.
Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes is likely to rotate his squad for the trip to Ibrox. The Dons have two less days to prepare for the fixture having beaten Kilmarnock on Sunday, but McInnes has a full squad to choose from after reporting no injuries.
Kari Arnason and Adam Rooney were two players who were dropped to the bench against Killie however, and they could be among those to return to the side against fourth-placed Gers on Wednesday.
