Rangers star banned for Celtic clash as Gers face nightmare scenario
Rangers were held to a 1-1 draw by Dundee at Ibrox as their lacklustre start to the new season continued.
Rangers' Premiership draw against Dundee at Ibrox on Saturday marks the first time in 36 years that they have failed to secure a win in their opening two league games. The situation was even grimmer for Graeme Souness back in the 1989/90 season when his Light Blues side lost both of their initial two matches, suffering defeats against St Mirren and Hibs.
Russell Martin's team can at least claim two more points than that Souness side which only managed to win two of their first eight games that season - yet still clinched the title. This might offer some solace to Martin, although a significant improvement in performances is needed after consecutive 1-1 draws, at Motherwell last weekend and at home to Dundee on Saturday, to kick off the season. However, things are set to become considerably more challenging and issues appear to be piling up against Martin - though one major problem could arguably be said to be the club's own making.
Nasser Djiga has been a bright spot in the early part of the season with his performances in the Champions League qualifiers. The Wolves loanee was shown a red card on Saturday for pulling down Dundee's Finlay Robertson as he sprinted towards goal.
Djiga will now serve a one-match suspension and Rangers' next match is against Alloa Athletic in the Premier Sports Cup. However, SPFL rules dictate that the ban must be served in the competition in which the red card was issued, meaning the Burkina Faso international will miss out on the next league game.
The trip to St Mirren, which was scheduled for the following weekend and selected by Sky Sports for live coverage on Sunday, August 24, would have been next.
However, Rangers have chosen to postpone their fixture sandwiched between both legs of their European play-off ties, an option offered by the SPFL to all Scottish clubs.
This means that unless the Light Blues unexpectedly lose a three-goal lead against Viktoria Plzen, the trip to Paisley will be rescheduled and Rangers' next league game will be when Celtic visit Ibrox the following Sunday.
The absence of Djiga for that match would be a significant setback for Martin, and to make matters worse, pessimistic Rangers fans have already envisioned a dreaded scenario.
Celtic have decided not to reschedule their home game against Livingston on the weekend Gers were due to travel to St Mirren. Therefore, a victory in that match, and in today's trip to Aberdeen, would mean the champions going to the home of their rivals knowing a victory would put them 10 points ahead after just four Premiership match days of the new season.