FRIENDLY FIRE
RANGERS ............ 4 MOTHERWELL ...... 0
RANGERS told telly viewers the kick-off was delayed – only for Motherwell to fail to turn up at all.
The Light Blues were rampant as a gulf in class between the sides, which was hardly in evidence before lockdown, was brutally exposed.
The only team likely to have stopped Steven Gerrard’s side last night were to be found in white coats at the local Covid-19 testing centre.
The scientists failed to come up with the results that allowed the match to go ahead at its arranged 6pm start.
Instead, it was delayed by two hours – and within 90 minutes Rangers had dropped the biggest hint they’ll be light years ahead of the third-best club in the country in the new campaign.
The Ibrox side were two goals to the good after only 10 minutes and three goals in front five minutes before halftime before a Ricki Lamie own goal in the second half added to the woe of the Steelmen.
Rangers dominated in midfield and attack as Stephen Robinson’s side, so impressive for much of last season, stood off in admiration and showed a rare carelessness in possession.
However, the failings in Well’s performance should take nothing away from the quality of the Gers goals as they made it eight without reply in their three pre-season fixtures to date ahead of another bounce game against Coventry at the weekend.
They were slick and pacy, particularly in the first half, and played with an energy and tempo to which they must aspire consistently in the months ahead if they are to come close to laying a glove on Celtic in the title race.
The opening goal after only six minutes underlined everything that was good about Rangers on the night – and bad about the visitors.
Borna Barisic, a standout throughout down the left, delivered a tempting back-post cross for Alfredo Morelos.
He hooked it back towards the penalty spot, but Alan Campbell’s defensive header was weak and dropped perfectly for Ryan Kent to crack a first-time volley into the corner of the net from 19 yards.
Croatian defender Barisic was in the mood – and Motherwell knew it as Liam Grmishaw and Campbell stood off him as he powered down the left again minutes later.
It was a fatal error of judgement as his pinpoint delivery was met perfectly by Ianis Hagi, who knocked a strong header high past Trevor Carson from eight yards.
The Steelmen started with new boys
Lamie, Mark O’Hara and Ibrox loanee Jake Hastie, looking for a moraleboosting display ahead of their league opener at Ross County in 10 days.
However, the Rangers midfield had a firm grip on the game, with Joe Aribo, Kent and Hagi particularly impressive.
Aribo clipped a left-foot shot over the top, moments after Carson had dived smartly to his right to keep out an effort from Hagi.
The Romanian should have been given a penalty midway through the opening period when he was upended by Lamie, who had been undone by the quick feet of the playmaker.
However, even Hagi’s twinkle toes were made to resemble Ann Widdecombe’s cumbersome Strictly efforts when Nigerian talisman Aribo added a stunning third five minutes before half-time.
The former Charlton kid cut in from the left and played quickfire one-twos with Morelos and Kent as he burrowed into the heart of the Well rearguard.
He moved the ball from left foot to right, then back to the left, before passing a delightful shot beyond the helpless Carson from eight yards.
Minutes earlier, Aribo had turned provider with a defence-splitting pass to Hagi, who pirouetted before drawing his shot wide from 16 yards when he should have hit the target.
Unsurprisingly, a slew of substitutions after the break did little to help the flow of the game, although the visitors would have been relieved at the respite.
They even created their first chance
GARY RALSTON AT IBROX