PEDRO FALLS DOWN ON JOB
Hoops open up old wounds
Brendan Rodgers spoke of Rangers’ psychological scars.
And yesterday at Ibrox, Celtic proceeded to tear open the wounds and rub salt in them.
In fact, when Leigh Griffiths’ goal hit the back of the net for 2- 0, it felt like the Hoops gaffer was pouring vinegar over them for good measure.
Rodgers has now hurt this current Rangers side so much in the space of 15 months it’s verging on cruelty.
And unfor tunately for Pedro Caixinha, the pain being inflicted on his side by their Old Firm rivals shows no sign of letting up.
Celtic didn’t just stick the knife in yesterday. They left yet another indelible mark on their bitter foes.
And despite a credible, valiant firsthalf performance, you have to say Rangers did little to protect themselves.
When Caixinha’s line- up was revealed, at first glance it read more like a suicide note.
Crippled by injuries to players such as Bruno Alves, Lee Wallace, Niko Kranjcar, Jordan Rossiter and Declan John, he had a decision to make.
Real ise your l imitat ions and appreciate the quality of opposition you have to stop. The way legendary boss Walter Smith did on countless occasions during his Ibrox reign.
Or just say: “No, we’ll play our way irrespective of personnel and go for it.”
And by giving seven new players their Old Firm debut when they were toiling for defensive bodies, that’s exactly what Caixinha did.
When the team sheets arrived, one hack said: “Rangers need the equivalent of a football miracle here.”
And when you compared the sides it was difficult to disagree.
Young Ross McCrorie up against Griffiths on his first start for the club.
Stand- in ful l- back Lee Hodson having to deal with Patrick Roberts on Celtic’s right flank.
Ryan Jack and Graham Dorrans being outnumbered in midfield by a Hoops three of Scott Brown, Stuart Armstrong and Tom Rogic.
And of course, mystery man Carlos Pena starting ahead of Old Firm veteran Kenny Miller.
I say mystery because – especially after yesterday – most people are still trying to work out what the £2million signing has to offer.
Listen, miracles can happen. And this sport prides itself on producing them when you least expect it.
The fear for Rangers was always going to be, had they given themselves a chance to make it happen?
After all, even the most optimistic Rangers fan will have felt that Caixinha HAD to be more pragmatic in his approach yesterday.
The 5-1 annihilation on their own patch back in April was still fresh in the memory.
Those wounds Rodgers talked about had barely been given a chance to heal.
And with an injury crisis at the back, it was crying out for the Ibrox gaffer to shore it up.
Granted, he wasn’t awash with options. But surely the energetic Jason Holt would have added some much- needed legs to their engine room?
One of his best games in a blue jersey was in the 1-1 draw a Graeme Murty-led Gers achieved at Celtic Park last season.
And would Caixinha regret not relying on Miller, a big-game hunter who – despite being off-form – usually thrives in this fixture?
But fair play to him. He stuck to his guns and by half-time they were defying their 5/1 odds to be well in it. Sure, the experiment with Pena wasn’t working. Scott Brown was still
being given a l icence to dictate Celtic’s tempo and the Mex ican was offering little as an attacking force.
But every other Rangers player was at least grafting his backside off for the manager and their supporters.
Young McCrorie, for instance, looked completely unfazed by the chaos around him.
Of course, Celtic had more of the ball, especially early on when they looked a threat. But, for 45 minutes, Caixinha’s team at least showed they can compete.
And at the start of the afternoon, that’s pretty much all the Rangers support would have asked, or indeed hoped for.
The problem for this Gers side, as has been the case all season, is they simply can’t keep it up for a full game.
When they have a period of high intensity, tempo and quality, like they did for a spell in the first half here, it’s usually followed by a lull.
And when you don’t punish your opponent while you’re on top you’re always likely to pay the price later on.
That’s exactly what happened at Ibrox yesterday.
In the second half, Rodgers’ team took control . And when Rogic hammered home the opener Rangers toiled to get back to the level they had set earlier on.
An Alfredo Morelos’ header aside, they reverted back to being second best.
Obviously, it was an improvement on the 5-1 humiliation.
But it had to be after Caixinha was backed by the board in the transfer market over summer.
Ultimately, by the end of yesterday’s encounter, that gaping Rangers wound could have been a lot deeper.
For a half, Caixinha and his players stuck a plaster over it.
Only to feel Celtic rip it off again and ensure that sting is there a while longer.
The most optimistic fan will have felt Caixinha had to be more pragmatic