No game for the SPL league leaders today but Ally McCoist still had a lot to think about after Saturdays loss to St Mirren. Rangers face Celtic on Wednesday hoping to open the gap on their old rivals after losing 2-1 in Paisley. Rangers could be without Lee McCulloch and Dorin Goian on Wednesday night, after both players were shown red cards against Saints. Manager McCoist is considering an appeal against McCulloch's dismissal for violent conduct. With any appeal hearing unlikely to take place before Thursday, the midfielder could still play a part in the Glasgow derby. McCoist insists there is no chance of the rest of his players dwelling on what was a miserable day all round for Rangers. He said: "I can assure you we will be ready for the game (against Celtic), I can guarantee you that. It's going to be a tough game but we will be ready and the players won't need lifted for that one because it's a big, big game." The loss of two players was a disappointment for McCoist but he believes he has enough options to fill the gaps created. He went on: "I won't lie to you, it's not ideal. But we've got one or two other things we can do. We've got Kyle Bartley and Kirk Broadfoot and Davie Weir and boys like that. As disappointing as it is, and we would rather not have that situation, it's not something that we can't handle." Rangers enjoyed a significant lead of 15 points on Celtic on 5 November, although Neil Lennon's side were in action the following day and still had two games in hand at that time. The gap between the Old Firm rivals has been trimmed tojust a single point, with the title race impossible to call. When it was put to McCoist that the momentum is now with Celtic, he said: "The truth of the matter is I would rather be a point ahead than a point behind. Of that there is no doubt. I take where you are coming from, Celtic are on a good run of form at the moment in terms of victories. But it counts for absolutely nothing."
Source: FOOTYMAD
