STEPHEN CRAIGAN ON REVITALISED RANGERS
Gerrard’s free-scoring side will be one to avoid when they make last 16
RANGERS’ dramatic win on Thursday night in Antwerp epitomised the mind-set and character change within the squad since Steven Gerrard took over.
I’m not sure the vulnerable Rangers of last season could have coped with the roller coaster nature of the game itself and then have the ability to dig deep for a crucial win.
They showed a level of calmness and composure when they suffered setbacks, they didn’t panic and stuck to their game plan which will have pleased Gerrard no end.
It’s easy as a player to be part of a side that wins all the time, a team which dominates the ball and brushes teams aside. The acid test comes when the tide turns, you face an uphill battle and people question what you have in reserve. That’s what the Rangers players had thrown at them on Thursday night at half time and they delivered an emphatic response in the second 45 minutes.
They didn’t feel sorry for themselves, they took control of the situation and looked a completely different proposition in the second half.
Ryan Kent was the catalyst for the improvement after his introduction just before half time, replacing Kemar Roofe. A few eyebrows where raised pre-match when Kent wasn’t in the starting team as European football has previously brought the best out in him. He certainly seemed fresh and hungry when he came on.
I was critical of Kent last week in this column regarding his impact in recent games and rightly so. However, the way he influenced the game last night was the perfect way to hit back at any detractors. He was back to his dynamic best, roaming over the front line, committing defenders and topped of an impressive individual performance with a sublime goal.
Kent has raised the bar like a lot of other players and his personal challenge is to get as close to that as often as he can.
There’s still plenty of mile
age left in this tie mainly due to Rangers uncharacteristically giving up cheap goals in Antwerp. That irked Gerrard after the game and he said there’s work to do ahead of next Thursdays return leg.
They will have to defend a lot better than they did but on the flip side they can take great encouragement from the opportunities they created over the piece and will feel there’s more goals in it for them, too.
Together as a management team and players Rangers are
continuing to turn heads in Europe with other teams starting to sit up and take notice.
They have played six games away from home in the Europa League this season and scored an incredible 20 goals. With that type of return if, and I fully expect them to, they can finish the job at Ibrox then the so-called bigger teams left in the competition will want to avoid meeting Rangers in the last 16.
That’s testament to the collective work over the past two and half years within the club and
they’re getting their rewards.
Domestic football tends to see Rangers up against packed defences and low blocks which can be frustrating whereas in the Europa League teams open up and allow Rangers more space and freedom to attack. There’s no doubt the players thrive with the freedom they’re afforded and the evidence clearly backs that up.
I don’t imagine there was a lot of sleep on Thursday night due to a late flight home as well as the emotion attached to the
game but tomorrow at home to Dundee United its back to reality and getting the job done as they close in on the Scottish Premiership title.
This will be another test for Gerrard and his team but riding on the high of Antwerp I imagine they’ll de determined to get the job done.
Across the city Celtic have found some form with five wins on the spin but it’s hard to get excited about it all as the damage was done a long time ago.
Neil Lennon has been really optimistic in his interviews but, if I’m honest, it’s games they should be winning and it’s hard to give them lavish them with lots of praise.
Lennon has put up the argument that every game for Celtic is a pressure game but on this occasion I have to disagree. Pressure games for Celtic are going for titles, winning cups and competing in European football, not cementing second place in the table.
Odsonne Edouard has also hit a hot streak but, much like the rest of the team, it doesn’t count for awful lot. He had a dry patch when his team needed his big performances and they weren’t forthcoming. There isn’t any doubt about his quality but whether he finishes with 25 or 30 goals this season it doesn’t really matter, he and his team mateswheregoingtobejudged on delivering the 10th title.
The one huge positive is the form of David Turnbull and the impact he’s made. I did say when he signed he’d surprise a few people, I’m just surprised it took so long.