Go over his head
Gers need an experienced man in now to help under-pressure Murty
STORM Doris this week resembled nothing but a balmy breeze in comparison to the tornado of discontent currently heading for Edmiston Drive.
The Rangers board are under even greater pressure this morning to act after a late collapse at Inverness hauled Caley Thistle off the foot of the table in their 1000th competitive match.
The stats are beginning to pile up against Rangers like the snow at the side of the long and winding A9 their weary support travelled down last night after another 90 minutes to forget.
They have now won just one league match in their last seven and have conceded opening goals in six of their last seven games.
Caley Thistle had not beaten Rangers in the Highlands since December 2006 but a late rally saw Richie Foran’s side move a point clear of Hamilton at the bottom as Billy Mckay snatched victory with a spectacular overhead kick two minutes from time.
In fairness, Rangers performed markedly better than they did in their tame and timid 2-1 defeat at Dens Park last Sunday but that’s no consolation to the Light Blues legions.
They were sloppy in front of goal and passed up at least half-a-dozen clear-cut chances to win a thoroughly entertaining fixture before Mckay finally struck, holding off Rob Kiernan to hook a shot in off Wes Foderingham’s right-hand post.
Greg Tansey had opened the scoring seconds before half-time before Martyn Waghorn equalised from the spot midway through the second half but Rangers have reached a crossroads.
They need a senior figure in now to assist Graeme Murty ahead of crucial games in the next fortnight, including a visit to Celtic Park, starting with the visit of St Johnstone on Wednesday.
Rangers directors would do well to pick up the phone to an old boy – Jimmy Nicholl comes to mind – to sit on the shoulder of the Under-20s coach before his career is compromised any further with the pressure of this job.
The presence of a senior figure might at least buy them breathing space as they continue with their interviews for a director of football and a head coach.
They may have been working quietly behind the scenes these last two weeks but now they need to make a more public move or else they won’t just fail to finish second – they might even fail to qualify for Europe all together.
Rangers have started far too many games sluggishly this season but it was not an allegation that could be levelled at them last night. It needed a fine double stop from Owain Fon Williams in four minutes to prevent Rangers going in front. Firstly he blocked an effort from Kenny Miller then sprung to his feet to deny Emerson Hyndman.
Miller then cleverly dummied a pass from Jon Toral for Barrie McKay to let loose from 25 yards but Fon Williams cleared. Ross Draper almost swiped a low cross from McKay into his own net and Waghorn was inches from connecting with a clever through-ball.
Caley Thistle were dealt a blow in just 15 minutes when Carl Tremarco, limped off, Brad McKay coming on.
Rangers continued to look more industrious as they zipped passes around a slick pitch on a bitterly cold night.
But the first half fizzled into a drab nothingness as Caley Thistle found their game face and began to deny Rangers the space from which they’d earlier prospered. Tansey drew a shot wide following indecision in the Rangers rearguard and that sparked an immediate response as McKay knocked a header over from six yards.
It was the best chance of the game and the winger should really have forced Fon Williams into a save.
Hyndman also had a shot blocked as Rangers suddenly upped the tempo again as half-time approached and Waghorn curled a left-foot shot narrowly wide after McKay’s initial effort was charged down.
Caley Thistle were still a threat, especially on the break as they looked to use the lightning pace of Jake Mulraney to good effect.
He skinned Wallace as half-time approached and cut it back for Mckay but his effort was deflected onto the outside of the post. It was a warning the Light Blues didn’t heed as Caley Thistle hit the opener in 45 minutes.
Liam Polworth’s initial effort was charged down but the ball broke to Tansey who looked up and cracked a low shot inside Foderingham’s right-hand post from 25 yards.
Rangers were clearly smarting from
going in at half-time behind. They set about making amends as they took the game to the home side, much as they had done at the start of the match.
Once again, however, they were wasteful in front of goal as they chased the equaliser their possession and creativity in the final third deserved.
After an hour Miller slipped in Hyndman free on goal but his effort was blocked and the Caley Thistle defence also scrambled to thwart Tavernier who turned creator moments later to tee up McKay but his effort was touched over by Fon Williams.
It looked as if it would be one of those nights for Rangers when Hyndman brilliantly picked out Jon Toral in the box. He only had the keeper to beat but went for power and drew his shot wide.
Rangers finally drew level midway through the second half with that spot-kick, so needlessly conceded when Louis Lang went in late on Wallace. Waghorn sent Fon Williams the wrong way and Rangers sniffed blood.
But it was the home side who almost took the lead again when Tansey hit a shot that was turned high and wide by Foderingham.
The Gers keeper also beat away a shot from Mckay late on after Fon Williams performed more heroics at the opposite end, blocking Waghorn, then pushing a Tavernier piledriver to safety.
Two minutes before Mckay struck, Foderingham had saved a spot-kick from Iain Vigurs after Danny Wilson had caught Mckay in the box but not for the first time this season Rangers failed to heed the warning.