Rangers face a fresh challenge to Sunday’s Scottish Premiership opener with Kilmarnock after images appear to show that the Rugby Park pitch has been shortened.
Last season’s third-placed side are no longer managed by Steve Clarke but the approach is clearly a defensive one from new Italian boss Angelo Alessio.
Killie are well within their rights to do this, with the SPFL Rules and Regulations H19 stating that pitches must be between 95 to 110 metres long and 60 to 72 metres wide
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It’ll help compound the play on the pitch and stifle anyone bringing an expansive game to Ayrshire.
That said, Rangers must be confident going into the league opener.
Killie were unceremoniously papped from Europe by part-time Welsh outfit Connah’s Quay Nomads in one of Scottish football’s most embarrassing defeats ever.
That said, they remain an unknown quantity under the Italian boss.
Whilst there was always going to be a transitional period at the club after being under the stewardship of Steve Clarke, it would be foolish to underestimate them.
Rangers must go there with a game plan and achieve three points to stand the club in good stead for the season ahead.
The Ibrox club struggled to find their feet after a disappointing opening day draw with Aberdeen last season and Steven Gerrard will be eager to avoid a repeat.
The SPFL have also announced that the tie will be refereed by controversial referee Willie Collum, who awarded Killie a dubious penalty on the final day last year.
With the Ayrshire club taking the decision to shorten the pitch, it’ll literally be an even tighter match than first thought.
