By Alistair Aird
After another chastening Champions League night on Tuesday, it was back to domestic duties for Giovanni van Bronckhorst and his players when Rangers welcomed an in-form St Mirren side to a sun-drenched Ibrox. The Saints had marched up to third place in the table, winning five of their previous six league matches. Included in that run of results was an impressive 2-0 home win over a Celtic side that many ‘learned’ individuals reckoned to be invincible. That result plus recent European excursions have put that notion to bed rather emphatically, though.
Although much has been said of late on how Rangers have been playing – turgid, too slow, too passive – the performance and result against Hearts at Tynecastle gave promising signs that there were blue shoots of recovery. The side were much more dynamic going forward and looked more solid defensively too.
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Remarkably, that was only the tenth time that Rangers have won away from home in the 17 league fixtures played away from Ibrox since van Bronckhorst took over. In contrast, there has been no place like home. In the 16 league games at Ibrox under the Dutchman prior to this one, 14 had been won, and in all competitions, only Celtic and Napoli have left with a victory. Despite their recent good form, surely St Mirren wouldn’t be added to that very short list?
Given the defensive nature of the team selection and formation at Anfield there five changes to the Rangers starting XI, some of which were unexpected. Out went Leon King, Steven Davis, Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent and Malik Tillman, and their starting berths were taken by Ryan Jack, Scott Arfield, Antonio Colak, Rabbi Matondo and Fashion Sakala. The last two impressed in the latter stages midweek, their pace and power causing Liverpool some problems and creating a couple of half chances for Rangers to break their group stage scoring duck.
Changes in personnel also resulted in a change in shape. From a defensive 5-4-1, Rangers were back along familiar lines, setting up 4-1-4-1. Lundstram sat in front of the back four, with Jack alongside Arfield in the centre. Matondo took Kent’s position on the left, with Sakala roaming on the right. Front and centre was the prolific Colak who was averaging a goal a game in the league, a goal every 71 minutes, and an average of 1.4 shots on target per game.
A shrill blast of referee Nick Walsh’s whistle got proceedings underway. Given events late in the early kick off in Perth, it was imperative that Rangers took care of business. Nothing less than maximum points would suffice.
It’s always been something of a tradition that Rangers attack the Broomloan Road end in the opening half, and that was upheld in this game. And the ball was in amongst the fans in that stand inside the opening minutes, Matondo’s dangerous low cross from the right being cleared for a corner.
The corner came to nothing, but the early attacking endeavour was a portent of things to come. And after four minutes Rangers were 1-0 up. Colak fed the ball wide to Barisic, and when the left back’s low left foot shot from distance bounced off the post, Colak the penalty box predator pounced.
The intensity that had been lacking lately was back with a vengeance. But a slack pass from Golson after nine minutes presented Alex Grieve with a chance to restore parity. However, on current form it will take something special to beat Allan McGregor, and on this occasion, the veteran produced another important diving save.
Play raged to the other end, and Sakala’s darting run and pass broke the way of Arfield, but his shot was blocked. Rangers forced a corner in the next phase of play. and Jack’s effort was touched wide by Carson. Tavernier then shot from the edge of the area, and Carson scooped the ball onto the top of the net.
It was relentless. Rangers were suffocating the Saints, registering 78% possession in the opening quarter of an hour. Of their 120 passes, 106 were accurate. In contrast, the visitors had only mustered 36 passes, 69% of which found their target.
After 20 minutes, Lundstram bulldozed his way through a couple of challenges and won a free kick. The ball was worked to Jack who rolled it square to Tavernier, but his right foot shot was smothered by Carson.
Lundstram was dominant at this stage, spraying a couple of long balls out wide and clocking up 94.4% passing accuracy. He was calm and assured any time he received the ball, head up, looking for a pass, and unflustered when put under pressure.
In the 27th minute, Matondo fired wastefully high and wide when he cut inside onto his right foot, but a couple of minutes later, Rangers were handed an opportunity to make it 2-0. Tavernier’s ball in found Colak and when he was fouled by Declan Gallagher, Walsh pointed to penalty spot. Tavernier stepped up and drilled the ball down the middle. The two-goal lead was no more than Rangers deserved for their first half hour of dominance.
The pedal stayed on the metal, though. A long ball over the top from Goldson almost released Matondo, and after 37 minutes, Arfield intercepted a forward pass and slid the ball to Jack who worked it on to his left foot before firing his shot over the crossbar.
The rain was now falling in a light smur from the lead grey skies above Ibrox, but it didn’t dampen Rangers’ ardour. They were in complete control, and some clever play involving Lundstram, Matondo and Jack almost created an opening for Arfield.
Half time came and went, and Rangers emerged with the same XI that started the game. There were options to freshen up on the bench if required, but it was case of more of the same when the match restarted.
Although the sun had re-emerged, there was now an autumnal chill in the air, and clearly van Bronckhorst, hands thrust in his pockets and navy blue jacket zipped up to the top, was feeling it too. But he must have been warmed by the positivity shown by his players on the pitch.
Five minutes after the restart, Sakala spun on the edge of the box, but his shot was diverted wide for a corner that came to nothing. The Zambian then hurled himself bravely at a dipping cross from Barisic, but his header was skewed and didn’t worry the St Mirren defence.
After 62 minutes the first changes of the afternoon were made. Ben Davies, who turned in another solid showing at left centre back, was replaced by Leon King, while Kent took over from Matondo on the left-hand side of the attack.
Given a chance to impress, Matondo did well in fits and starts. He favours using his right foot rather than his left, and he almost made the game safe after 56 minutes, ending an enterprising run with a shot that struck the post. He made two key passes during his time on the pitch, but only one of his four crosses was deemed accurate. For a wide man, that stat needs to be better.
After 68 minutes Rangers got a fright. A ball was lofted to the back post where Mark O’Hara was all alone. He bore in on goal, but McGregor, making his 321st league appearance for Rangers, stood tall and made the save. He has played an important role since he came back into the side, and although pretty much inactive throughout, this was the second key save he made in the game.
But any doubts over the outcome were put to bed with 17 minutes to go. Sakala made another dart forward and played a pass to Colak. Resisting the temptation to shoot first time, the Croat cut inside and curled the ball into the far corner with the outside of his right foot. It was a stunning finish and the £1,800,000 spent on him already looks to be a bargain. He gives Rangers a different dimension up front than Alferdo Morelos or Kemar Roofe. Inside the 18-yard box he is razor sharp and already looks certain to score in excess of 20 goals this season.
There was no respite for St Mirren. After 78 minutes Colak went off to a raucous roar, Alfredo Morelos coming on. Barisic was also withdrawn and replaced by Ridvan Yilmaz.
After 82 minutes, Yilmaz tried to wriggle clear, but was fouled on the by-line. Before the free-kick could be taken Ryan Jack came off, with Glen Kamara coming on. Jack played very well and may have played himself into contention for the Liverpool game on Wednesday. He had 63 touches of the ball, 91.5% pass completion, two key passes and a couple of attempts at goal. He also won three of four ground duels. If he keeps himself fit, he will have a big part to play for the remainder of the season.
St Mirren threatened again when Curtis Main thudded a shot against the bar and Ethan Erhahon forced McGregor to make another fine save, but you had the feeling that the game was starting to peter out. The job was done, the mission to secure three points accomplished.
But there was time for a fourth and final goal. King pinged a superb ball wide to Tavernier. The skipper slid a pass to Morelos, and he touched it through for Sakala who bent a beautiful shot around Carson with his left foot.
It was just reward for Sakala. He has been an impact sub for most his time with Rangers – only 20 of his 56 appearances have been from the start – but his infectious enthusiasm was apparent throughout. He had 51 touches, 87.5% of his passes were accurate, and each of his seven dribble attempts were successful. Colak was voted man of the match, but Sakala was a very close second.
In the end this was a routine win. On paper, it looked like there would be a contest, but aside from a couple of openings that were thwarted by the magnificent McGregor, St Mirren were well beaten.
The Rangers players and the manager have been open to criticism recently. Some of that was warranted, but they have bounced back and stamped their authority all over the previous two league matches. That momentum must be sustained in a hectic October and for the rest of the season.
While that step to the next level in the Champions League has been gargantuan, there have been signs of improvement at that level since the abomination in Amsterdam. Next Wednesday against Liverpool will take care of itself, though. Rightly or wrongly, we have to get back to dominating domestically.
The last two results have shown that we are on the right road to achieve that, though, as the quest for 56 continues.