MANAGER Michael Beale is expecting a tough test in Kilmarnock tomorrow evening as Rangers return to Scottish Premiership action.
Derek McInnes’ side have a strong record at Rugby Park, and Beale knows his side will have to be up to the challenge in order to come away with the three points.
Looking ahead to the game at this afternoon’s pre-match press conference, he said: “I am expecting a really tough test, I know Derek well, he is a good guy and the Aberdeen battles between our teams were really tough games.
“He has done a good job at Kilmarnock, obviously getting them back up and they have got a lot of familiar faces in their squad who have got good experience in this league. They have lost one in nine at home and they have beaten every team that we have beaten since we came back in so game on.
“It should be a good game, we need to go for three points and I'm sure they are feeling the same after what was a really good performance at Hampden at the weekend. I'm sure although they will be disappointed, that will give them a lot of confidence for the remainder of the season.
“For us playing 120 minutes maybe we naturally rotate the squad, we had some key players that came on at the weekend and did well that are probably looking at me thinking come on when is my chance to show I can have a big impact in the season.
“It is important I choose the moments, if that isn't tomorrow night then it certainly will be on Saturday evening.”
Beale hopes the core of his squad can help build consistency in the team as he continues to put his ideas across as manager. He continued: “In the six or seven games since I have come back I have tried to settle things down and pick pretty much a core of six or seven players in every game to give us that consistency.
“It is more about how we deal with certain moments and what we need from certain players in the team at different times. Connor Goldson missed large parts but him and Ben Davies' partnership is now bearing fruit.
"John Lundstram has probably been the one mainstay of the leadership group in the team this year along with James Tavernier so the more we keep those players together I think that will bring the glue between my ideas and how we need to behave on the pitch at certain times.”
Beale provided an update on Kemar Roofe who will miss tomorrow evening’s game after he picked up an injury at Hampden on Sunday.
He added: “He won't be available for this game and probably this weekend as well it is a real sore one. He has been away and he has had the scan and he is going to see somebody else just to get a second opinion.
“It is a huge disappointment for him, for the fans and for his teammates as well because he is not just such a good player on the pitch he is very important around the building, he is one of the more senior players and one of the more vocal ones.”