***The Official Rangers vs Stirling Albion thread****

[JR 1,480]

Ill wager we'll play Jig up front alongside Hemmings.

[elephants stoned 2,994]

Looked to me like Jig and Hutton Holding Midfield and Faure CB, but who knows these days.

[MasterD 7,435]

KANE HEMMINGS has been handed his first competitive start and given the chance of shooting Rangers tantalisingly close to the SFL 3 title.

The young Englishman is in the main striking role for today’s Noon clash with Stirling Albion.

Spaniard Francisco Sandaza is under a club suspension pending an inquiry into a prank phone conversation he was involved in while top scorer Andy Little is with Northern Ireland on international duty.

With resources stretched due to injuries, Lee McCulloch continues at centre back which means Hemmings is the natural choice for the central striking position.

The former Tamworth forward has appeared just once as a substitute this season – in the 3-1 win over East Stirlingshire on March 2.

However, he spent a highly successful loan period with Cowdenbeath in SFL 1 in which he scored four times for Colin Cameron’s side.

Boss Ally McCoist had indicated that he would use Hemmings between now and the end of the season but circumstances have forced him to bring him in slightly earlier than planned.

It’s a very young looking Rangers side – especially middle to front – with Fraser Aird and Barrie McKay in the wide areas.

Ian Black sits out as a result of his red card at Elgin last week but Kyle Hutton is back from his suspension and plays beside Robbie Crawford in midfield.

Andy Murdoch, who captained the under-17s to Glasgow Cup success last season, is on the bench.

So the team is lining up in a 4-1-4-1 formation.

RANGERS: Alexander; Hegarty, McCulloch, Cribari, Wallace; Faure; McKay, Crawford, Hutton, Aird; Hemmings.

Subs: Gallacher, Argyriou, Murdoch, Naismith, Mitchell.

[julescotia 11,407]

Looks like a 4-1-4-1 to me

TEAM NEWS: Alexander; Hegarty, Cribari, McCulloch, Wallace; Faure; McKay, Hutton, Crawford, Aird; Hemmings

[JR 1,480]

I'm happy with that, and if I'm honest ~ I wished it was like this weeks ago.

[julescotia 11,407]

A midfield and strikeforce made in Auchenhowie, lets see what you can do lads

[elephants stoned 2,994]

We play our most exciting line up (on paper at least) only when forced too, thank god for Blacks temper and Sandazas stupidity.

[bubblybear 258]

Jig has not got the pace for midfield, so it's either u/f or defence. I would put him u/f with Hemmings for experience alone. but we shall see what Ally decides! 4-4-2

[JR 1,480]

Jig has not got the pace for midfield, so it's either u/f or defence. I would put him u/f with Hemmings for experience alone. but we shall see what Ally decides! 4-4-2

He's decided, its on the official site.

[JR 1,480]

We play our most exciting line up (on paper at least) only when forced too, thank god for Blacks temper and Sandazas stupidity.

This.

[bs1982 22]

I am interested to see how we play today. None of our signings from the SPL are available (Sandaza, Black, Kyle, Shiels, Templeton) so it is the sort of team comprised mostly of youngsters, that most of us were expecting we would have to play every week when put down to the third division.

[skinnymate1690 624]

What's wrong with going 2 up front ! Put faure at cb and jig up with hemmings , it's Stirling Albion ffs no need for a defensive mid

[8watp8 254]

We play our most exciting line up (on paper at least) only when forced too, thank god for Blacks temper and Sandazas stupidity.

this x2

[MasterD 7,435]

Big game today for Crawford, McKay, Aird, Hemmings.

[Marco Negri's Beard 1,423]

The chosen one starts...

[THE_Ibrox_Preacher 2,812]

.

[wearethepeople1 3,897]

We will lose this game IMO

[bubblybear 258]

If I was Ally, I would hope for a 2-0/2-1 comfortable win. Me I want every player to play like a cup final and batter them 4-0

[IbroxBurnzy 484]

Desperate for a DECENT performance and result today.

[julescotia 11,407]

Well said DJ

If any of you missed it, he said on ESPN there ....

"When Rangers win this title, they should give it to the fans and let them pass it around Ibrox, because they're the ones that won it this year, they're the ones that kept this club alive"

[laudrupno1 3,932]

3-0 Rangers

[Blue corn flakes 1,282]

Stirling going 4-4-2 today, looks like they're going to have a go.

Rangers going with the usual 4-1-4-1

[RFC55 108,841]

This games just got a hell of a lot more interesting, lets hope the young guns can stake a claim. Lets batter them rangers

[RFC55 108,841]

Stirling going 4-4-2 today, looks like they're going to have a go.

Rangers going with the usual 4-1-4-1

3 4 3 when attacking. Mind formations are wry interchangeable nowadays mate. No such thing really as a flat formation. Stirling will be 541 a lot of the time today

[Dutchy 1,200]

It'll be good to see hemmings on from the start today. He has come on a sub in the past, I think he looked OK, but can't remember much as he's been on loan for some time as well.

I'll stick with a 3-0 prediction though.