Should Mark Warburton mix it up for the cup when Rangers face Livingston?

No, says Matthew Lindsay

MARK Warburton would be wrong to not to treat Livingston with total respect in their Petrofac Training Cup quarter-final meeting at Ibrox tomorrow night.

Especially after three consecutive performances at home, against St. Johnstone, Falkirk and Queen of the South, which have left a lot to be desired.

Yes, Livingston may be rooted to the bottom of the Championship table after winning just one of their opening 10 league games.

That is in stark contrast to Rangers who made it 10 wins out of a 10 with a hard-fought triumph over Queens at Ibrox on Saturday.

Glasgow Times: Rob Kiernan, left, Martyn Waghorn, centre, and Dominic Ball, right, celebrate Rangers beating Queen of the South 2-1.

However, Warburton’s side has toiled to break down teams which have sat back against them and defended at home in recent weeks.

The chances are Livingston will do exactly the same. Rangers will need all their best players on the field to ensure their safe progress to the last four is secured.

This Gers team needs to learn how to overcome opposition who seek to defend and frustrate them and this is another opportunity for them to do that.

If Warburton’s charges can forge a few goals in front then at that time, and not before, fringe players can be given a run-out in a competitive fixture.

Glasgow Times: Rangers manager Mark Warburton leads training at Ibrox

A chance for change, says Chris Jack

MARK WARBURTON often emphasises the importance of his squad and the meeting with Livingston on Tuesday night gives him a chance to use it and make a couple of changes from the side that beat Queen of the South.

That doesn't mean to say this is a game Rangers will treat lightly and do not want to win, though. Whatever side he selects, the Light Blues will be expected to emerge victorious.

Kenny Miller appears the obvious one to drop out from the starting line-up and it would be no surprise to see Nathan Oduwa rewarded with a jersey after he played a crucial role off the bench against the Doonhamers. The same can be said of Nicky Law.

Glasgow Times: 14/08/15 . MURRAY PARK - GLASGOW . Dominic Ball is officially unveiled as a Rangers player. (35205325)

If Danny Wilson is fit, Warburton then has a call to make whether to bring him back into the team or to stick with Dominic Ball, who did little wrong on Saturday. The Spurs kid has impressed when given a chance to play this season and is worth another go tomorrow night.

Apart from that, the team pretty much picks itself, although it would be interesting if Warburton decided to pitch a couple of kids in and give the likes of Jordan Thompson and Ryan Hardie, regular squad members so far this season, a chance to show what they can do.