Rangers B return to Glasgow Cup action tonight as they host Partick Thistle’s first team at the Rangers Training Centre, looking to bounce back from a dramatic 3-2 defeat to Clyde in their opening group match on Friday evening.
The young Gers were left frustrated after conceding a stunning stoppage-time winner to the Bully Wee, despite showing plenty of promise for long spells of the contest.
Clyde had taken an early lead through a Scott Williamson penalty, before Rangers responded well. An own goal from ex-Gers youth keeper’ Brian Kinnear brought the hosts level, and Josh Gentles composed finish in the 25th minute gave Rangers B a deserved advantage.
However, Clyde pressed late on and equalised through Ross Lyon, before Kyle Fleming produced a spectacular long-range strike deep into stoppage time to seal all three points within the group stage.
The result left Rangers B with work to do in their Glasgow Cup campaign, making tonight’s fixture against Thistle an important opportunity to get their campaign back on track.
Standing in their way is a Partick Thistle side flying high in the Scottish Championship. Under the guidance of former Celtic defender Mark Wilson, the Jags currently sit second in the table and arrive in confident mood after a 3-1 victory over Montrose in the Scottish Cup fourth round on Saturday.
That win ended a brief dip in form following consecutive defeats to Ross County in the league and Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Challenge Cup.
Thistle’s backroom staff also includes a familiar face for Rangers supporters, with former Ibrox midfielder Alex Rae serving as assistant manager.
The Championship side will be keen to use the Glasgow Cup as a chance to maintain momentum and give valuable minutes to their fringe players and top youth talents, with the competition allowing full first-team squads to be fielded from the non-Premiership competitors.
For Rangers B, the challenge is a significant one. As with their match against Clyde, the young Gers will once again be restricted to using just three overage players, placing greater emphasis on the development of academy prospects.
Yet the performance on Friday showed that the talent is there, with Rangers creating chances, showing composure in possession and competing physically against experienced opposition.
The key improvement area will be game management. Conceding late goals is a familiar frustration for young sides learning the demands of senior football, and coach Liam Ross will be eager to see a more controlled performance in the closing stages tonight. Turning encouraging spells into points is vital if Rangers B are to keep their semi-final hopes alive.
The Glasgow Cup has long been an important platform for Rangers young players, offering exposure to first-team intensity in a competitive environment.
With fixtures against Celtic B and Queen’s Park still to come, tonight’s match represents a valuable test of character as well as ability.
Partick Thistle, meanwhile, will view the contest as a useful opportunity to keep their squad sharp during a busy season. Their physical presence, experience and tactical discipline will pose a stern challenge for the youthful Rangers side.
Despite the defeat to Clyde, there were positives to take from Rangers B’s performance, particularly in attacking areas. The ability to respond to setbacks and impose themselves against senior opposition will be crucial again this evening.
With the Glasgow Cup group stage now underway, Rangers B will be determined to show resilience, learn from their opening setback, and deliver a performance that reflects the proud history of the club in this historic competition.