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Prematch Analysis: Rangers vs. Dundee United Saturday, 04 February 2012 12:21 Written by djw1992

Sunday 5th February, 12.15PM, Ibrox Stadium. 

As temperatures plunge across the country, the SPL pauses this weekend to make way for the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.  After last month's outing in Arbroath, this round's opposition take the form of fellow top flight outfit, Dundee United.  This will be the third time the sides have met this season, with Rangers taking the spoils on the previous two occasions.

Indeed, the champions find themselves on a run of pretty decent form at the moment, winning four of their past five games, which is the club's best run of form since October.  Last week's 4-0 thrashing of Hibs at Ibrox was the particular highlight, a victory made all the more retrospectively pleasing considering it was done without the help of Nikica Jelavic, who left this week for Everton in a £5.5m deal.

This is in stark contrast to the recent form of tomorrow's visitors, whose only win in the 2012 calendar year so far was away to Airdrie in the same competition nearly a month ago.  However, their challenge could be boosted by Slovakian striker Milos Lacny, who arrived at Tannadice this week on loan from Sparta Prague.

As for injuries, it's the same old suspects for Rangers, with Lafferty, Broadfoot, Whittaker and Ness still a few weeks away from returning, while Dundee United's only significant absentee is winger Danny Swanson.

Predicted starting XI: McGregor; Bartley, Goian, Bocanegra, Papac; Edu, Davis; Wallace, Aluko, Çelik; Healy

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