Inverness CT v Rangers
Football : Scottish Premier League
Saturday 13 August 2011 - Kickoff 12:45pm
This game is live on TV

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Inverness CT

Terry Butcher may have been a little disappointed that his side failed to pick up all 3 points after conceding a 90th minute equaliser in their game at Dunfermline last week, but at least Inverness are off the mark following a couple of defeats to start the new campaign.

While the team will be glad to have got off the mark in the Scottish Premier League, they will want to move off the bottom of the table as soon as possible. The team lost their only game at home this season when conceding another injury time goal, this time in a 0-1 loss to Hibernian.

Inverness had failed to score in their opening 2 games of the season before scoring 3 at Dunfermline last week. They were beaten heavily by Motherwell on the opening day of the season and have now scored 3 goals and conceded 7 in their 3 games played so far.

Kenny Gillet and David Proctor have been ruled out through injury. These two players join Billy McKay, Josh Meekings and Lee Cox on the treatment table.

Rangers

The Champions League is now a distant dream for Rangers, but that does not mean Ally McCoist is finished finalising his squad for the new season with potential deals for Danny Wilson (loan from Liverpool) and Carlos Cuellar (transfer from Aston Villa) look to have moved forward. The side are 2nd favourites in the Premier League to Celtic this season following an off season of change.

Rangers picked up their first win of the season under McCoist when they won 0-2 at St Johnstone in their last game which took place a couple of weeks ago. That would have pleased the fans who watched the opening day 1-1 draw at home against Hearts.

Those results leave Rangers in 5th place in the Scottish Premier League, but they have a game in hand over the majority of teams although sitting 2 points behind Celtic who also have an additional game to play. Rangers have won at St Johnstone and drawn in Malmo in this new campaign.

Sasha Papac has a virus so has not travelled with the squad. David Weir and Steven Whittaker are both doubts.

Head to Head

Rangers have not had an easy time against Inverness in their recent meetings- they beat them 1-0 at Ibrox last January which is the only win for Rangers in the last 4 games, 3 of those taking place at Ibrox.

Inverness and Rangers drew 1-1 here in December last year, but the Glasgow club have had a fair bit of success here previously with 3 wins in a row.

Rangers have won just 6 of the last 12 meetings between the sides and, interestingly, have won all those matches with clean sheets.

Inverness have scored at least 1 goal in the other 6 games and earned a result each time.

Prediction

Ally McCoist said in his press conference how difficult it is coming to Inverness these days and even pointed out the fact that it was here that the title was effectively handed to Rangers last season.

Rangers have actually struggled more at Ibrox than when visiting the Caledonian Stadium and I think they will look to base a win on keeping a clean sheet.

Inverness had been struggling for goals in the first 2 games of the season and, even though they scored 3 against Dunfermline, that could be a problem against a notoriously tough Rangers defence.

I think Rangers can get the 3 points from this early afternoon away game, but it will be tight.

It is interesting to note that their last 6 wins have all come with a clean sheet against Inverness and that could be the way to attack this game. In the last 12 meetings, Inverness have only scored in 6 of those and got a result in all of those games, while Rangers have kept a clean sheet in the other 6 games and won each one.

The 2.38 that Rangers win with another clean sheet looks appealing enough for me to have an interest.

The Pick :

Inverness CT 0-1 Rangers

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll back Rangers win to nil @ 2.38 (Ladbrokes)