Danny Rohl made a tactical tweak this weekend when Rangers hosted Kilmarnock at Ibrox. A 3-0 defeat against Brann on Thursday night exposed their defensive frailty as well as their attacking limitations, and the manager switched to a 3-5-2 with a more flexible midfield setup. His brave call was rewarded with a 3-1 triumph, and the young German should stick to a similar system while clashing heads with Hibernian on Wednesday night.
Although the Gers defeated Hibs in the League Cup just over a month ago, their past two meetings at Easter Road finished all square. The home side scripted comebacks on both occasions, and the Glasgow giants must uplift their game to secure successive victories for the first time this season.
Predicted 3-5-2 Rangers Lineup To Face Hibernian
Defence
Despite being at fault for Killie’s first-half equaliser, Jack Butland should keep his place between the sticks, having been backed by Rohl post-match. However, Liam Kelly is waiting for opportunities, and a few more mistakes could cost the veteran Englishman his ‘number 1’ status in the coming days.
Barry Ferguson temporarily deployed a ‘back three’ during his brief tenure as the interim Rangers boss. James Tavernier performed well as a right-sided centre-back, as it allowed him to focus more on defensive duties. John Souttar should operate centrally, thus enabling Derek Cornelius to settle in his preferred left centre-half slot. Max Aarons and Nasser Djiga would be there among substitutes, unlike Manny Fernandez, who failed to earn a place in Sunday’s matchday squad.
Midfield
While Jayden Meghoma looked sharper as a left wing-back, the decision to play Djeidi Gassama from the other flank proved to be a masterstroke. Nicolas Raskin and Mohamed Diomande must operate from the base, with Thelo Aasgaard expected to feature as an advanced playmaker. The Norwegian could also be shifted down the deep, which would see a strategic alteration from 3-4-1-2 to 3-5-2, if the situation demands a change in game plan. Joe Rothwell, Connor Barron and Lyall Cameron might be involved from the bench as an alternate midfield trio.
Attack
Danilo was restored to the starting XI and partnered with Bojan Miovski high up the pitch. He should keep his place, having notched a goal against Killie. But the gaffer might prefer Youssef Chermiti ahead of Miovski, particularly after his maiden Rangers goal as a ‘super sub’. Oliver Antman missed the weekend tie due to illness, but the Finnish winger, along with Mikey Moore and Findlay Curtis, could be brought in to add more flair from the flanks.
