The play-off games offer one final chance for the players to make amends for an awful season. Early cup exits and disappointing league performances will all be forgiven if we can get the better of a team that scrambled to third place in the Championship.
Our record against Rangers does not bear examination but as they say in the financial press 'past performance is no guarantee of future returns'. We go into the game with a rested team as most of the first eleven watched our last outing from the stand.
Baraclough's standard formation has been 4-4-2 with Erwin and McDonald the favoured striking partnership. We will have to wait for the team lines to discover whether he sticks or elects to spread five across the midfield with Ainsworth and Johnson handed the dual role of keeping the opposition full backs under control and supporting the attack with their pace.
The central spine is experienced with McManus, Lasley, Pearson and McDonald no strangers to big occasions and their contribution will be important. Twardzik had a rare outing in goal on Saturday but Long is expected back between the sticks on Thursday. The timely return of Hammell has boosted our back line and he'll be keen to reverse our reputation for dodgy defending.
Rangers are by now well used to the two-legged format and they disposed of Queen of the South and Hibs to earn the right to challenge Motherwell in the final. We can expect to face a side looking to take a win into the second leg and their 50,000 fans will urge them forward. But the fact is that they have not impressed in the league campaign and their season is littered with poor results. There is no guarantee that they will be the better side.
The manager says that his team is well prepared and he has warned the players to have no regrets about their efforts on the pitch. Few in the away enclave will expect a win but a narrow loss with another 90 minutes to follow on our own patch would not be a bad result. We may have to cope with a 2-1 loss.
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