Manager sets sights on win as Dundee game is finally confirmed
PHILIPPE Clement yesterday welcomed Dens Park finally passing a pitch inspection ahead of Rangers’ rescheduled cinch Premiership game against Dundee - and immediately targeted a victory against their sixth- placed hosts tonight.
The SPFL had arranged for McDiarmid Park to be used if the playing surface at the Scot Foam Stadium was waterlogged once again – but referee Don Robertson and UEFAaccredited experts inspected the turf yesterday morning and were satisfied the fixture could go ahead at the third time of asking.
Clement was scathing about the Ibrox club’s game in hand being called off last Wednesday afternoon.
However, the Belgian admitted that he was pleased to finally receive some clarity on the situation surrounding the rearranged match yesterday so he could finalise his preparations.
Rangers suffered a major setback in their bid to win the Scottish title last Sunday when they crashed to a shock 3- 2 loss to Ross County in Dingwall and their manager is looking for a stark improvement and a triumph on Tayside.
“The people have decided they are sure that there will be a game tomorrow,” he said. “That is a very positive thing.
“I think everybody knows and everybody knew also about taking this decision, how it was processed, how it was prepared. The people who decided to play tomorrow at Dens Park are 200 per cent sure that we are going to play there. They know the weather forecast and are certain that the pitch will cope with that.
“It is good. It is good for us to know where we will play and we can prepare that. It is now go ahead for this game. I think everybody – the people from Dundee, people from Rangers – are happy that we can finally play this game.”
Clement added: “We can only focus on ourselves and on our football. We have some work to do with that also after the weekend where we were not happy at how we played, how we conceded goals, how we scored so few chances and that we lost points.
“All the focus has been on that.
“They were very disappointed in themselves and that is a positive thing. They were down after the game about the performance. I had some clear words after the game and the next day we had the briefing about what went wrong individually, collectively, and how we can make it better again.
“It is an off day I think you say in England. It is the first time in six points that I see my team like that. I was disappointed also about that, but I think every manager has these moments, even with teams that win amazing things.
“It doesn’t mean that I want to see it back on Wednesday, but it is part of the game. It is not something that you want, not the players, not the manager, not the fans, nobody. But the most important thing is how you react after that.
“I have a good feeling around that that I will see the real face of my team again.”
Clement confirmed that Rangers left back Ridvan Yilmaz will not be available to face Dundee and revealed that centre half Leon Balogun had been ill this week. He is, however, hopeful of having Mohamed Diomande back for the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup semi- final against Hearts at Hampden on Sunday.