by Kenny Boag.

Rangers lost 2-1 to Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on Wednesday night. A  Rangers  bound Jordan Jones, 66 minute winner was enough to see off Gerrard’s Rangers team that included veteran signings Jermaine Defoe and Steven Davies.

There was a feel good factor for many Rangers fans heading into the game against 3rd placed Kilmarnock. The team had finished the first half of the Premiership season on level points with arch rivals Celtic -albeit their Glasgow rivals have a game in hand- after a first derby win in twelve attempts with a 1-0 victory at Ibrox.

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard

The headache for Gers manager Steven Gerrard before the match was whether or not to stick with 4-3-3 that had seen off old foes Celtic in the previous league match or go with the 4-4-2 diamond formation that would include Defoe and Davis that had unimpressed in the first half of the friendly with HJK Helsinki, on Sunday.

The decision to change things after such an emphatic win has left some players and fans puzzled.

Ex-Gers striker Nacho Novo said:

“For me I keep with a winning team but Stevie Gerrard works with the guys every day so he knows best”

Nacho Novo, 2009 Emirates Cup

Facebook, Follow Follow user Alan Johnston believes:

“It is up to new players to force their way into the team.”

Some also wonder on the psychological affect it can have on a player having helped your team to such an important victory in the previous league match to suddenly be left out by the boss for the newbies.

Nacho Novo was no stranger himself to sitting on the bench and he added:

“Well it hurts, it happened to me a few times but the only thing you can do as soon as you get your chance is prove the manager wrong.”

Other fans believe that Gerrard was in-fact correct to field his new boys but keep the same formation.

Jermaine Defoe is the English top flight’s 7th highest goal scorer and Steven Davies previously spent 4 years at Ibrox winning every domestic trophy.  Helping the team reach the Uefa Cup final in 2008. Every manger would believe they would enhance his/her team.

Jermaine Defoe

Steven Davis

Facebook, Follow Follow users Ste Collington and Robert Potts agreed:

“He should have stuck with the same formation.”

It is fair to say whatever squad or formation that Gerrard, picks will be open to question by the light blue legions. Had his men defeated Killie the fans would have went home happy and formation or names on the team sheet would not have mattered.

Rangers now trail not only Celtic but also Kilmarnock in the race for the Scottish Premiership title and Gerrard must decide quickly on formation and team if the bears are to be serious title contenders.

All eyes are now on Sunday as Livingston host Rangers at Tony Macaroni Stadium.