In normal times, this shouldn’t be the game of the weekend – but these are far from normal times at Rangers.And a game on a plastic pitch, against a physical team with a wily manager, is the last thing Russell Martin and his players need.They suffered a fourth defeat in 14 games in Thursday’s Europa League loss to Genk and now the Ibrox side – sitting second from bottom in the Premiership – attempt to pick up a first league win of the season.Four draws and a defeat has Martin’s side one point behind their West Lothian hosts – albeit having played a game fewer – in their worst league start in 48 years.Rangers are winless in six league games – stretching back into last season – (D5 L1), the joint-longest run in their entire history (level with six other runs of six, most recently in December 2005).It’s not a case of being unlucky, either. The performances have been pitiful and even Martin seems to be losing a little faith in his own ‘fortunes will flip’ mantra.It may only be match-day six for Rangers, but this falls in the ‘must-win’ category.They have won nine of their past 10 games at Livingston in all competitions (D1), including their latest six in a row. In fact, they have not lost in their last 21 meetings.As ever with a fixture of this kind, though, David Martindale’s side have nothing to lose.They were left reeling from a video assistant referee (VAR) decision in the dying embers of their defeat by Dundee last week, although a second win on their return to the top flight would swiftly bring back the smiles.
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Scottish Premiership: Russell Martin’s Rangers, Kelechi Iheanacho & Jimmy Thelin in spotlight
