Paul Le Guen takes his Rangers FC side into his first Old Firm derby against Celtic FC on Saturday looking to halt the club's worst start to a Scottish Premier League campaign in eight years.
Mixed fortunes
The former Olympique Lyonnais coach has endured mixed fortunes since taking over from Alex McLeish in the summer, with three draws and a defeat in his opening seven league games leaving Rangers four points behind their Glasgow rivals in third place. A midweek Scottish League Cup win against Dunfermline Athletic FC helped relieve some of the pressure following disappointing away displays against Hibernian FC (1-2) and Molde FK (0-0) in the UEFA Cup, though the Frenchman maintains his team are underdogs for the short trip to Celtic Park. "Celtic are favourites for this game," said Le Guen. "Morale has not been very good. We need results, I am aware of that, we need to start winning."
Injury worries
Le Guen, who tasted a 2-0 UEFA Champions League defeat at Celtic with Lyon in 2003, will also have to do without influential midfielder Jérémy Clément (knee) and full-back Phil Bardsley, who is suspended after being sent off against Hibernian. Goalkeeper Lionel Letizi is struggling with a calf injury but Le Guen hopes striker Dado Pršo will recover from a knee problem to play. "The fact we are missing Clément is very bad news for us because I believe he has shown how important he can be," the manager added. "Maybe I need to put in one or two more players with experience."
Celtic absentees
Across the city, Gordon Strachan is waiting to see if Gary Caldwell and Lee Naylor have overcome knocks and will have to decide whether Paul Telfer continues to deputise for the injured Mark Wilson at right-back, while Dianbobo Balde could be given match practice ahead of Celtic's midweek UEFA Champions League meeting with FC København. However, the Celtic manager wishes to dispel the notion that all the pressure is on Rangers. "It is part of the propaganda and we must learn to cope with it," said Strachan. "We can only treat Rangers in the way they treat us, which is with great respect."
Miller return
One of the interesting subplots involves Celtic's former Rangers striker Kenny Miller, who this summer became the first player to cross the Old Firm divide since ex-Celt Maurice Johnston infamously signed for the Ibrox side in 1989. Miller has yet to score for Celtic since arriving from Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, and the 26-year-old Scottish international admits this would be the perfect time to break his duck. "I played in two Old Firm games at Rangers," said Miller. "I won one and lost the other, so I have experienced both emotions. I didn't score in either - I'm saving that for this one."
Celtic and Rangers do battle in the first Old Firm derby of the season on Saturday.
The Bhoys go into the game four points clear of their bitter rivals and will be aiming to add to their lead in The SPL at Parkhead.
Rangers boss Paul Le Guen experiences the Old Firm atmosphere for the first time with the pressure firmly on him after a mixed start to the season.
Celtic are close to full strength for the clash with Thomas Gravesen, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, Lee Naylor and Gary Caldwell all set to make their Old Firm debuts.
Bobo Balde is back in the squad but he is likely to be on the bench with Caldwell partnering Stephen McManus in the heart of the defence.
Paul Telfer will continue at right back in the absence of the injured Mark Wilson.
Gordon Strachan must choose who he starts in attack with Kenny Miller and Maciej Zurawski battling it out to partner Vennegoor of Hesselink up front.
Rangers are sweating over the fitness of Dado Prso before finalising their side.
Prso is struggling with a knee injury which forced him to miss last weekend's defeat at Hibernian.
Kris Boyd is expected to start after scoring in the midweek CIS Cup win over Dunfermline.
French midfielder Jeremy Clement is missing with a knee injury.
Lionel Letizi remains doubtful with a calf strain and Allan McGregor could continue to deputise if the Frenchman misses out.
Loan signing Phil Bardsley is absent following his sending off against Hibs.
