BY ALAN TEMPLE – Capital City Press
Queen of the South boss James Fowler has urged his underdogs to relish every moment of their daunting trip to Ibrox this weekend.
The Dumfries outfit travel to Govan on Saturday aiming to become the first team to take points off Championship leaders Rangers.
The size of Queens’ task is underlined by the last meeting between the sides in August, which saw Mark Warburton’s men come away from Palmerston Park with a 5-1 win.
Nevertheless, Fowler hopes his players relish the challenge of beating “the best”.
He said: “We know it will be a massive test against Rangers, with how well they are playing – but that is what you do as a coach and a player, you test yourself against the best.
“Rangers have been the best side we have played in this league so far, but we go to Ibrox to enjoy it, give our maximum and hopefully that will be enough to get a result.
“Sometimes it is easier to get up for these bigger games and it is important they go an enjoy the occasion.
“I’m sure they’ll do what they are good at and give their maximum work rate, on and off the ball, and you just never know where that will take you.”
Queens have been buoyed by their Championship win over Morton last weekend, with Derek Lyle securing a much-needed 1-0 win.
While there were no other domestic fixtures due to the international break, that encounter was brought forward from Boxing Day at the request of both clubs – and it was an inspired move for Queens, who ended a seven-match winless run.
After seeing his side perform well at both end of the pitch, Fowler knows that result provides a vital boost ahead tomorrow’s clash in Glasgow.
He added: “It does help, because you don’t want to go to Rangers after not winning for a few weeks.
“Against Morton, we showed we could defend when we needed to and still had a threat going forward.”
