Preview: Rangers vs. Livingston

Stuart McCall will take charge of Rangers for the first time when they welcome bottom-of-the-table Livingston to Ibrox in the Scottish Championship on Saturday.

The 50-year-old was confirmed as manager on Thursday after caretaker Kenny McDowall departed the club, having given his 12-month notice earlier this year.

New owner Dave King, who gained control of the Glasgow giants last week, was keen to get a fresh face in to reenergise the club as they seek a return to the top flight.

That is unlikely to be this season, with Hearts 17 points clear at the top of the division and the Gers even five points behind second-placed Hibernian.

McCall, only appointed initially until the end of the season, hopes to get a crack at taking the club at which he spent seven trophy-rich years as a player back to their former glory.

Ending a run of three consecutive draws against Livingston this weekend would be a good start. Dropping points against the likes of Cowdenbeath and Queen of the South would have been unthinkable for McCall when he was helping Rangers to six Scottish titles and five domestic cups.

The former Motherwell boss may turn to experience this weekend, with Kris Boyd and Kenny Miller both in line for recalls at the expense of Andrew Murdoch and Jon Daly.

The hosts have no new injury worries to contend with and so McCall could name an unchanged midfield and defence, with Haris Vukic the only one of the on-loan Newcastle United contingent expected to feature.

A rejuvenated Rangers was probably the last thing that Livingston needed after a five-match losing streak which has left them six points adrift at the foot of the table.

The Lions thought that they had earned a point at Hibs last weekend through Ibra Sekajja's 88th-minute equaliser, only for Franck Dja Djedje to bail the Edinburgh club out.

Mark Birchall may be tempted to go with the same side which pushed Hibs so close, with Sekajja partnered by Michael McKenna up front and South African brothers Kyle and Keaghan Jacobs playing together in midfield.

Rangers have beaten Livingston twice this season without conceding and have not lost to them since 2002.

Rangers:

Form in Scottish Championship: WLWDDD Form in all competitions: LLWDDD

Possible starting lineup: Robinson; McGregor, McCulloch, Zaliukas, Wallace; Law, Hutton, Clark; Miller, Vuckic, Boyd

Livingston:

Form in Scottish Championship: DLLLLL

Possible starting lineup: Jamieson; Sives, Talbot, Cole, Gallagher, Fordyce; Jacobs, Jacobs, Pittman; McKenna, Sekajja

Sports Mole says: 3-0