Rangers boss admits he should have made changes before Hibernian defeat
Rangers manager Walter Smith has admitted that he perhaps should have changed his regular starting line-up before the Scottish Premier League match against Hibernian on Wednesday 10 November.
The game, held at Ibrox, saw the Gers lose their first game in the league this season as the Hibees picked up all three points in a 3-0 win.
The result meant that Smith’s men have picked up just four points from their last three league games. However, they are still at the top of the league after fierce rivals Celtic lost 2-0 to Heart of Midlothian to remain one point behind the defending champions.
Smith has opted to use several of the same players throughout his side’s exploits in the SPL, UEFA Champions League and Co-operative Insurance Cup, and concedes that it might be time to start changing things around in order to combat fatigue.
'I've asked too much from the players'
He told reporters that: "I'm looking at myself at the moment. I should maybe have changed the team more than I have done. I have asked a bit too much of some of the players.
"When teams come (to Ibrox) and set out their stall well, at the present moment we have not really got the required sharpness to overcome that. It has shown in the last two games here and it's something we need to look at.
"I have to look at the pressure I'm placing players under. I need to take stock of that and maybe make more changes than I have been making in recent weeks."
Rangers will next welcome Aberdeen to Ibrox on Saturday 13 November, and will be forced to make at least two changes after Sasa Papac and Maurice Edu picked up injuries in the defeat to Hibs. Smith may opt to draft youngsters such as John Fleck into the starting
XI.
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