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26.07.2006 Friendly v Stranraer (H)

Letizi – Hutton, Hemdani, Papic, Smith – Burke, Rae, Murray, Adam – Boyd, Prso.

The final pre-season friendly sees me give a run-out to all of those who hadn’t played so far. Again, the start is emphatic as we take control and set up chance after chance. Adam is dynamite on the left wing and he sets up the opening goal after 19 minutes when he dribbles past his marker and crosses for Prso to head home. Seven minutes later Adam sets up Boyd and he crashes a shot against the crossbar, but the rebound falls kindly for Prso and he tucks it away for 2-0. Further shots from Murray and Rae go close to stretching our lead as Stranraer are completely dominated.

Half-time substitutions: Sebo for Prso (9), Clement for Adam (8), Novo for Boyd (7).

The change to defence for the second half sees our two strikers (Prso and Boyd) and our rampant left-winger (Adam) replaced. For the first time in three games we score in the second half. In the 56th minute Smith sends Sebo racing clear and he unselfishly squares the ball for Novo to tap home for a 3-0 lead. There is a notable change in Stranraer’s efforts as they realise we are allowing them some freedom. Letizi is forced to make several late saves as the visitors search for a consolation goal – in particular a spectacular tip-over from Nicholas’s 85th minute free-kick – but we eventually grind out the 3-0 win.

Rangers 3 (Prso 19, 26, Novo 56)
Stranraer 0

Letizi (8) – Hutton (6), Hemdani (7), Papic (6), Smith (6) – Burke (6), Rae (7), Murray (7), Adam (8) – Boyd (7), Prso (9).

Subs: Sebo (8), Clement (7), Novo (7).

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The first Scottish Premier League match of the season pits us against Hearts who will be the toughest opponents that we have faced so far this season. The half-time tactic change and substitutions certainly seemed to have an effect on the team in the friendlies and the statistics speak for themselves.

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>1st half – scored 5, conceded 0.
<LI>2nd half – scored 1, conceded 1.</UL>

Will we be able to build a commanding first half lead and then defend it into the second half? To make matters tougher for rangers, skipper Barry Ferguson gashes his head in training and he will miss the next two weeks. I will pick my first eleven based on the form in the friendlies and not on reputation and we’ll see how things go at Ibrox this season.

29.07.2006 League v Hearts (H)

McGregor – Bardsley, Hemdani, Ponroy, Papac – Sionko, Rae, Buffel, Adam – Novo, Prso.

Oh dear, things look unhealthy for Rangers as only Adam registers a shot in the first half and that flew five yards wide after 23 minutes. There is really nothing else of note to report in a drab and dismal 45 minutes of football.

Half-time substitutions: Letizi for McGregor (7), Rodriguez for Ponroy (7), Smith for Bardsley (7).

The three best performers of the opening half are the goalkeeper McGregor and the defenders Ponroy and Bardsley, so a complete overhaul of the defence is made due to the enforced substitutions. A half-chance falls to Buffel after 55 minutes, but he snatches at his shot and it flies wide. Rodriguez is gobbling up any crosses in to the centre with a dominant aerial display and from his 77th minute clearance Adam picks up the ball and slides it through for Prso. The big Croatian strides clear and places his shot under Gordon to put us 1-0 in front. Moments later Adam supplies another telling pass, but this time Prso’s shot smacks against the post and rebounds to safety. Hemdani and Adam both go close late on, but we are saved from an equaliser in injury-time when a header from Jankauskas clips the top of the crossbar with Letizi well beaten. It’s 1-0 to Rangers at the end and 5th place on the table is our reward after the opening round.

Rangers 1 (Prso 77)
Hearts 0

McGregor (7) – Bardsley (7), Hemdani (6), Ponroy (7), Papac (6) – Sionko (6), Rae (5), Buffel (6), Adam (7) – Novo (6), Prso (7).

Subs: Letizi (7), Rodriguez (8), Smith (6).