Dundee bid to spoil 'scintillating' Rangers' Ibrox homecoming party as Tony Docherty ready to attack

Dundee boss Tony Docherty insists they aren’t just heading to Ibrox to be guests at Rangers’ homecoming party as they look to spoil the Light Blues’ return.

Philippe Clement and his men will play their first game in their own stadium this season with a place in the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals up for grabs. Rangers are the trophy holders but have had a shaky start to this season, not helped by their temporary switch to Hampden Park due to a delay in construction work at the Copland Road Stand, and Clement will be hoping getting back on home soil can help get the season on track.

The Light Blues last home match was against Dundee when Docherty’s men raced into a two-goal lead but Gers hit back with five goals. The Dark Blues boss was impressed with Clement’s side when they won 1-0 across the road from Dens Park at Tannadice last Sunday but hopes to spoil their return to Govan.

Docherty - who suffered a first defeat of the season against Ross County last week - said: “It is a wee bit of an unusual situation because they’re going back to Ibrox for the first time but we’ll prepare for every eventuality and make sure we’re ready.

"I would expect the fans to be right behind Rangers because they’re just getting back to Ibrox. I thought Rangers were scintillating in the first 20 minutes (in their 1-0 win over Dundee United) at Tannadice on Sunday, and we’ve got to be ready for that.

“We’ve got really good players and they need to realise that and be confident, brave in possession and resolute as a team, and if we do all that and go in team-handed and ready to go toe-to-toe with Rangers, we’ll give ourselves a chance. It’s a cup tie, so you’re either in or out at the end of it, and we’re going to give ourselves every chance.

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