With both sides experiencing tough times of late, Rangers and rock-bottom Dundee United meet in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.
The hosts have lost each of their last three games by an aggregate score of 11-0, while their visitors are yet to taste victory in the top flight despite a recent change of management.
Match preview
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Falling to their third straight defeat - each by three goals or more, and all without scoring - Rangers saw their second outing in the Champions League end with a 3-0 home loss to Serie A leaders Napoli on Wednesday.
In an eventful Group A fixture, recalled goalkeeper Allan McGregor twice denied the visitors' Piotr Zielinski from the penalty spot, while James Sands was dismissed shortly before the Azzurri scored three times in the final half-hour; leaving the Glasgow giants winless ahead of successive meetings with Liverpool.
Following in the footsteps of heavy reverses to both arch-rivals Celtic and European rivals Ajax, Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side are ailing likely rarely before, and victory from this weekend's domestic game is now considered essential: Celtic are already five points in front.
With a half-fit Alfredo Morelos back in the side, Rangers put on an improved showing in midweek (managing 10 shots; six more than in their opening group stage match) but they have plenty of rebuilding to do defensively - not least in terms of confidence.
Due to the postponement of all football across Britain last weekend, the Gers missed out on facing Aberdeen at Pittodrie, but will surely relish the chance to put things right against opponents they have beaten seven times on the spin in Glasgow - and by an aggregate score of 21-2.
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Even more defensively dubious than their hosts have been of late, Dundee United have leaked goals left, right and centre so far this season: 26 from nine league and cup games.
They arrive at Ibrox with a similarly poor record of shutting Rangers out, as the Tangerines have not kept a clean sheet there in a Premiership fixture since April 2005; conceding 54 goals in 17 visits since.
However, United's caretaker boss Liam Fox, who stepped into the breach following an all-too-brief Jack Ross reign, has led the Tayside club to a win and a draw from their two most recent matches, before last week's meeting with Hibernian was called off.
After getting the better of Livingston in the League Cup at the end of August, they then held Motherwell to a goalless draw, and posting a rare clean sheet will surely have boosted morale in the camp.
While the Dundee United board remain in talks with several candidates over a replacement for Ross - former Everton assistant coach Duncan Ferguson has apparently already rejected an approach - Fox has had his cause championed by several pundits and past coaches.
Certainly, any application for the job would read so much better featuring a shock win over Rangers among its highlights.
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Team News
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Despite lacking in fitness, Alfredo Morelos put in a positive shift against Napoli and will surely be considered for another start on Saturday. However, top scorer Antonio Colak seeks a recall up front.
Rangers goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin was replaced by 40-year-old deputy Allan McGregor on Wednesday - the latter featured in the club's Champions League campaign of 2010, such is his longevity - and the hosts' last line of defence could remain unchanged.
While James Sands will only be suspended in Europe, fellow defenders John Souttar and Filip Helander remain on the treatment table; forward pair Kemar Roofe and Ianis Hagi also remain out of action.
Meanwhile, Dundee United's Peter Pawlett is still sidelined by an Achilles tendon injury and will not return until after the international break.
The visitors have failed to score in each of their last three league games, but Steven Fletcher - one of just two United goalscorers so far this season - is likely to lead the line once more. Tony Watt should join the veteran striker up front in a 5-3-2 formation.
Rangers possible starting lineup:
McGregor; Tavernier, Goldson, Sands, Barisic; Lundstram, Jack; Wright, Tillman, Kent; Morelos
Dundee United possible starting lineup:
Eriksson; Smith, Mulgrew, Edwards, Graham, Behich; Harkes, Levitt, McGrath; Watt, Fletcher
We say: Rangers 2-0 Dundee United
Though it appears a change in the dugout has stopped the rot for Dundee United, their latest visit to Ibrox is particularly ill-timed, as Rangers will be fired up to answer their critics. If they can keep the back door closed, the hosts will coast to victory by more than one goal.
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Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
