Rangers will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways this weekend against Cowdenbeath following their disappointing exit from the Scottish Challenge Cup.

The Gers were cruising at 2-0 up against fellow Scottish Championship side Alloa Athletic last night before succumbing to defeat at the semi-final stage of the competition.

It was a cruel blow for Ally McCoist and his side, who are also nine points off the pace in the league table following their 2-0 defeat at leaders Hearts last time out.

A home match against struggling Cowdenbeath could offer some welcome respite for Rangers, although the Miners did manage to halt a four-game losing run in their last match against Livingston.

Despite that victory, this weekend's Ibrox visitors remain in a relegation playoff spot, in desperate need of points to climb away from danger.

Lewis Macleod will miss this Saturday's game after being stretchered off in that defeat against Alloa which increased the pressure even further on McCoist, while Steven Smith is serving a suspension.

Meanwhile, match-winner last time out in the league, Callum Gallagher, will be forced to sit out this weekend's game against his parent club due to terms in his loan contract.

Rangers:

Form in Scottish Championship: WWWWDL
Form in all competitions: WWLDWL

Possible starting lineup: Simonsen, Mohsni, McCulloch, Wallace, Foster, McGregor, Black, Law, Miller, Daly, Boyd

Cowdenbeath:

Form in Scottish Championship: WLLLLW
Form in all competitions: WLLLWL

Possible starting lineup: Thomson, Miller, Fraser, Wedderburn, Marshall, Robertson, Oyenuga, Johnston, Milne, O'Brien, Higgins

Sports Mole says: 2-0.