Dunfermline boss Jim McIntyre believes his players can take a lot of confidence from the last time they faced Rangers.
The Pars travelled to Ibrox at the start of December and recovered from the loss of two early goals to nick one back through Joe Cardle. As the game moved towards full-time, it was Ally McCoist’s side clinging on and desperate to hear the final whistle.
With Rangers the high noon visitors to East End Park on Saturday, McIntyre is looking for his players to replicate that showing in Govan but with a different outcome against a side still reeling from their shock Scottish Cup exit to Dundee United last weekend.
He said: ”Of course we can take confidence. You should take confidence from any good performance against the Old Firm. It was the same when we did well at Parkhead. Any time you play Rangers or Celtic you have to weather a storm, you need to defend well and you need your goalkeeper to play well. Nothing changes on that front, and you need to grow into the game and avoid conceding early.
”I think you’ve got to start well and make sure you get out the traps and at it from the first whistle, or it can be a long afternoon. For all Rangers are in trouble at the moment, they are a good side and have good players. Obviously things haven’t gone their way, losing key players, but we have to look after ourselves and try and get a result.”
He added: ”I think there’s less pressure any time you play the Old Firm and it’s only natural people will assume that but you have to put pressure on yourself. We’re in a dogfight for our lives here and we have to make sure we’re picking up as many points as possible and that’s what we will be trying to do.”
On-loan Preston keeper Iain Turner had to pull out of Tuesday’s game against Kilmarnock after suffering a back spasm.
McIntyre revealed the goalie is unlikely to feature against Rangers but issued a firm vote of confidence in the man who replaced him, Chris Smith.
The Pars boss also confirmed that another on-loan player Kyle Hutton will not play.
He said: ”Turner’s doubtful. He’s still in a fair bit of discomfort, so it’s not looking likely but we’ll wait and see. Injury-wise, it’s the same as the other night just Steven Bell and Nicky Phinn.
”Of course Killie was a test of Smith. I don’t think anybody would think otherwise when you’ve lost your place because of mistakes which have been made.
”I thought he handled the situation really well on what was a very difficult pitch for goalkeepers,” added McIntyre.
”Kyle won’t be available to play. This is just a gentleman’s agreement and is the same as we had with Jason Thomson when he was here from Hearts. Loan players who go out don’t play against their parent clubs, so it’s no great surprise.”