Rangers Euro defeat can help title push says Ricksen

Inter Milan midfielder Estaban cambiasso (L) fights for the ball with Glasgow Rangers' defender Fernando Ricksen during their Champions League match on September 28. Ricksen believes the Ibrox side's improved performance in their 1-0 defeat away to Inter Milan can help revive their Scottish Premier League challenge.

Rangers Dutch defender Fernando Ricksen believes the Ibrox side's improved performance in their 1-0 defeat away to Inter Milan can help revive their Scottish Premier League challenge.

The 29-year-old had criticised his teammates' display last weekend, when their 1-0 defeat against Hearts left them trailing the Edinburgh side by a massive 11 points after only eight games played in the league.

But after the narrow defeat in Champions League Group H against the Italian giants on Wednesday night, Ricksen hopes Rangers can narrow the gap on the leaders, starting with a win at home to Dunfermline on Saturday.

He said: "We need to build on this now. You are never happy when you lose a game, but it was Inter Milan and they are a top side with world-class players and we matched them for long spells so we can be pleased with that.

"There were two things that I was really pleased with. Firstly, the commitment from the boys was excellent, we fought very hard and that is the spirit we need in every game from every Rangers player.

"But the passing game was coming back as well. In the last few games that hasn't been there but we are a team who needs to play a passing game.

"So we lost, but we have taken some good points away with us even in a defeat and we can build on this.

"Dunfermline is so important now. We have to start winning again and we need to go on a run in the league as we have made it very hard for ourselves."

Jim Leishman's side will arrive at Ibrox with only one win and two draws from the eight games this week and will not be expected to add to this tally on Saturday.

However, the Pars will take heart from the fact Rangers have already lost in the league this season, against Aberdeen and Hibernian, which immediately followed European ties - the home and away legs of the Champions League qualifier against Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta.

Meanwhile Paul Lambert will face Celtic for the first time as Livingston manager, after leaving the Parkhead club in the summer.

Though his side are still looking for their first win of the campaign, Lambert will have been encouraged by his side's performances in their last two games, where they handed Hearts' their first defeat of the season with a 1-0 win in the Scottish League Cup, and a goalless draw away to Aberdeen in the league.

But Gordon Strachan's Celtic are improving with every game and will be expected to take all three points to move to within two points of top of the table Hearts who are away to Falkirk the following day.

George Burley's league leaders will be favourites to make it nine wins out of nine in the when they visit Falkirk Stadium on Sunday, but their opponents have already shown they are capable of causing a shock this season.

The Bairns held Rangers to a 1-1 draw at the beginning of September in their own stadium, then in Glasgow took Celtic into extra-time in the League Cup before eventually going down 2-1, and John Hughes team will be aiming to be the first side this season to take points off Hearts.

Hibernian will also play on Sunday, after their UEFA Cup game against Ukrainian side Dnipro on Thursday night, and they will be looking for all three points at home to Inverness Caledonian Thistle to stay in third place.

And the remaining games this weekend will see Aberdeen welcome Motherwell to Pittodrie while Dundee United are at home to Kilmarnock on Saturday.

Fixtures (1400 GMT unless stated)

Saturday

Rangers v Dunfermline, Livingston v Celtic, Aberdeen v Motherwell, Dundee United v Kilmarnock.

Sunday

Falkirk v Hearts (1300), Hibernian v Inverness Caledonian Thistle.