EVERY CROWD HAS A SILVER LINING
Gerrard hopes trophy triumph’s first of many
Steven Gerrard has his first trophy as Rangers boss.
Of course, it’s not the one he really wants. But it’s a trophy.
And ahead of one of the most important seasons in the club’s history – where some form of silverware is an absolute MUST for the Ibrox boss – his team have at least hit the ground running.
Skipper James Tavernier lifted the Veolia Trophy in Lyon last night after Gers’ victory over OGC Nice, achieved thanks to Jermain Defoe’s first-half strike and youngster Jamie Barjonas’ late clincher.
They should have been further in front before the break, while Ryan Kent and sub Jamie Murphy almost got on the scoresheet as well.
But keeper Allan McGregor also had to be in top form to keep them in front.
This trip to France has been a worthwhile exercise for Gerrard’s players, as they gear up for the Premiership opener at Aberdeen on August 1 and their unfinished Europa League tie against Bayer Leverkusen five days later.
For the first time in 12 years, Gerrard enjoyed a battle with old foe Patrick Vieira last night.
But it’s fair to say their dugout duel was far less ferocious than when they used to come up against each other in Liverpool v Arsenal clashes.
The last time they met, in 2008 when the Anfield side took on Inter Milan, Gerrard came out on top with a goal and 2- 0 victory.
And the Rangers gaffer showed in his team selection here that he was desperate for another win.
He made just three changes to the starting line-up that beat Lyon on Thursday night.
McGregor returned in goal behind an unchanged back four – with the manager clearly looking for continuity in defence ahead of the clashes with Dons and Bayer.
In the middle of the park, veteran Steven Davis was given a rest with Glen Kamara drafted in.
And up front veteran Defoe was
given some much-needed game time, replacing Alfredo Morelos as the central striker.
Vieira gave youth a chance after drawing 1-1 with Celtic in midweek.
The Frenchman handed starts to 17-year- old kids Salim Ben Seghir and Alexandre Parsemain in attack.
Right from the off, Rangers were on the front foot.
This was a different game to the Lyon one, when they sat in, played compact and hit on the break – especially after Kent’s red card.
Here they were the ones dictating the tempo, enjoying the bulk of the ball, and some of their passing sequences were pleasing on the eye.
But as they dominated the early stages, Gerrard would have been frustrated again with his side’s lack of a killer instinct.
They worked themselves into some terrific positions, particularly in wide areas, but were ragged and wasteful with their final pass. Connor Goldson should have opened the scoring early on from a Borna Barisic corner but headed over.
The Croatian left-back, just like against Lyon, was getting plenty of space down the flank but failed to penetrate Nice’s defensive line.
Another brilliant move down that side resulted in Kent getting to the byeline and his cut- back looked perfect for Ianis Hagi.
But the Romanian’s shot from close range was deflected just wide.
Hagi looked in the mood again after shaking off an early knock and his piledriver from 20 yards forced Nice keeper Yoan Cardinale into his first proper save.
Rangers’ pressure finally told five minutes before half- time when Kamara’s vision released Kent with a super pass and the winger drove at Nice’s backline.
This time, he picked the right ball for Defoe, who took one touch before slotting home a tidy finish.
It was another well-worked goal from Rangers – and another set-up for Kent.
The £7million man’s return wasn’t good enough last season but he’s got two already, albeit in this friendly tournament, which will give Gerrard and Rangers fans encouragement ahead of the new campaign.
Nice came into the game more after the interval and George Edmundson picked up a booking when the Ligue 1 side threatened to get in behind.
Alexis Claude-Maurice missed a glorious chance to level after a neat one-two in the box – as he skewed a shot past McGregor’s left-hand post.
Gerrard made a raft of changes on the hour, with Calvin Bassey, Davis, Scott Arfield, Morelos and Murphy all getting a run- out.
But there was a slackness creeping into their play, with tiredness maybe kicking in after two games in just three days.
Goldson had to def lect another Claude-Maurice effort wide, then Ihson Sacko forced McGregor into a f ine stop as Vieira’s men desperately tried to get level.
Kent almost put the game to bed for Rangers with a piercing run which started with a nutmeg and finished with a long-range rocket that keeper Cardinale had to claw clear.
They finally got the second goal they craved with virtually the last kick as youngster Barjonas sealed victory when he drove into the box and tucked into the bottom corner.
That secured the trophy – and Gerrard will hope it’s the first of many as Rangers boss.
RANGERS: McGregor, Tavernier (Patterson 86 mins), Goldson, Edmundson (Middleton 86), Barisic (Bassey 63), Kamara (Davis 63), Jack (Arfield 63), Aribo (Barjonas 79), Hagi (Murphy 63), Defoe(Morelos 63), Kent (Stewart 79).