Rangers lost 1-0 at Kilmarnock on the opening day of the new Scottish Premiership season; five of Michael Beale's summer signings made their league debuts at Rugby Park; they host Servette in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier on Wednesday night
Thursday 10 August 2023 11:24, UK
Former Rangers striker Kenny Miller has told Michael Beale the pressure will be on after their "nightmare" start to the Scottish Premiership season, but he is backing them to impress in their Champions League qualifier.
The new look Ibrox side suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Kilmarnock meaning they are already playing catch-up to Celtic after their opening day 4-2 win over champions Ross County.
They face Swiss side Servette in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier on Wednesday night as they look to join their Old Firm rivals in the group stage of the competition.
Miller, who had two spells at Rangers, expects Beale's summer signings to impress in front of their home fans.
"There's been a lot of excitement surrounding the summer and the recruitment drive by Michael Beale and the rebuilding of this team to potentially go challenge for the league title, but it was an absolute nightmare start," he told Sky Sports News.
"It was always going to be a tough game with a late kick-off and a plastic pitch, and there's no doubt that pitch played its part, but it's no excuse for Rangers - they should have been better.
"The fans won't be happy that Celtic got off to a good start again under Brendan Rodgers, and Rangers have slipped up on day one so already you're playing catch-up. With that comes pressure.
"So you go into a game on Wednesday night here at Ibrox in a Champions League qualifier and the fans will be turning up expectant and that will then automatically shift to the game at home on Saturday against Livingston.
"Here in front of 50,000 fans on the slick Ibrox pitch, I'd expect to see a lot more from Rangers in an attacking sense.
"You could see right from the off against Kilmarnock the ball bounces differently and it maybe took a few players some time to adjust to that."
Beale has made nine new signings so far this summer with five handed their league debuts in Saturday's defeat at Rugby Park.
Rangers manager Michael Beale spoke to Sky Sports at full-time in the Kilmarnock game:
"Kilmarnock defended extremely well. They had a game plan. They were dangerous on the counter all day. They were comfortable in the game.
"It's a very poor opening day for us. We need to move forward very quickly. There's 37 games to go, let's not get carried away.
"The excitement over the summer is going to be tempered. We have to show the fans and excite them and they have to get behind us, it works both ways.
"I expect us with the quality we have to execute in the moments we had. If we don't, I expect a hard-fought away draw rather than coughing up a really poor goal."
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