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McInnes backs Fernandez as Rangers prepare for Aberdeen semi-final

Errol MayfieldPublished 5m ago2 min readBased on 7 sources
McInnes backs Fernandez as Rangers prepare for Aberdeen semi-final
Photo by Jeffrey F Lin on Unsplash

Rangers manager Derek McInnes has defended centre-back Emmanuel Fernandez, saying the 25-year-old "has been a big part" of the team's strong form this season. BBC Sport

Fernandez, a Nigeria international, has started every Rangers match so far this season. The defender plays in the middle of the back four, the pair of players who stop attacks closest to goal. Rangers have kept more clean sheets than any other side in the Scottish Premiership, which means more games without conceding a goal.

The club's next test is a cup match. Rangers face Aberdeen on Saturday in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final at Hampden Park, the national stadium in Glasgow. The winners reach the final of the competition, which is the Scottish League Cup under its sponsored name.

Midfielder Tochi Chukwuani is due to have a scan on a knee injury before that game, according to The Scottish Sun.

Before that, Rangers drew 2-2 with Hearts at Tynecastle. Hearts were rescued from defeat by a late equaliser from Olwethu Makhanya, as Sky Sports reported. It was McInnes's return to the ground, and a match that ended level after Rangers had been in front.

McInnes took charge of Rangers in June. His first big result came in September, when Rangers beat Celtic 3-0 at Ibrox in the quarter-final of the same cup. Dan Neil scored twice in that win, and it was McInnes's first Old Firm game in charge. "Old Firm" is the name for matches between Rangers and Celtic, Glasgow's two biggest clubs.

The season has not all gone to plan. In August, Rangers went out of the Conference League, a European competition, after a 1-1 draw on aggregate with Czech side Jablonec. Aggregate means the total score across both legs. Rangers won the first leg 1-0 at Ibrox but lost the second 1-0, then lost the penalty shootout 4-3.

For Rangers fans, the next few days are about fitness as much as football. Fernandez's run of starts and the clean sheets give McInnes a settled base. Whether Chukwuani is available on Saturday will be decided after his scan.

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