Rangers need to let their quality shine through to avoid more stumbles on the road in the league
THE old cliches about winning individual battles and there being no easy games were there to serve as a warning for Rangers ahead of their meeting with Hearts on Sunday.
Come full-time, it was the messages about a draw feeling like a defeat and this being two points dropped rather than one gained that were the most pertinent of the well-versed lines for manager Steven Gerrard and his players.
Only time will tell what the true impact of the result at Tynecastle actually is and how costly it proves for Rangers. It can’t be allowed to undo the positives thus far.
This was a game Rangers were expected to win and that, on form, they should have done. Yet there really are no easy games in Gorgie and when too many of the individual battles are lost, the chances of success diminish.
Gerrard questioned the mentality of his players post-match and the comments, which would no doubt have been stronger behind closed doors, would have been taken to heart by a team that didn’t have enough players at it against Craig Levein’s side.
Rangers had the momentum behind them and all the motivation required but fell flat as Hearts battled their way to a point.
They deserved no less and Rangers deserved no more.
It will undoubtedly frustrate Gerrard. He knows how good Rangers can be on their day, but they find it difficult to dominate and dispatch teams away from home as much as they do when 50,000 cheer them on at Ibrox.
Every game, of course, is different and the technical and tactical challenges vary from week to week, but the levels cannot be allowed to fluctuate as much. Consistency of performance will breed consistency in terms of results, and only that will enable Rangers to challenge for the Premiership title.
Rangers moved top of the table before the international break courtesy of successive 5-0 wins as Aberdeen and Hamilton were swept aside with style. Both were fortunate that the respective defeats were not heavier as Gerrard’s side showed how impressive they can be as an attacking force.
But their performances on the road have been far less convincing, even though the wins have been racked up at the required rate, both in the Premiership and the Europa League.
The way that Gerrard’s side won in Midtjylland in the third of their qualifiers was almost the perfect away showing. Two lapses in quick succession cost them two goals on the night but never threatened to deny them victory, or a place in the next round.
The defending overall was resolute, while the middle of the park was patrolled and controlled, with Glen Kamara and Ryan Jack both excellent alongside the effective Joe Aribo. Rangers pressed in the right areas, broke with speed and precision on the counter and their finishing was clinical as Alfredo Morelos scored before the break and Aribo, Nikola Katic and Scott Arfield netted in the second half to earn a deserved and satisfying victory for Gerrard’s side.
The onus that night was not on Rangers to attack. Indeed, there was no great expectation that a win would even be secured against a decent Danish outfit just weeks into the new campaign.
It is a showing Rangers have not been able to produce in the Premiership, though, and their games on the road have been a slog rather than swashbuckling. Having got away with it until now, the fear was that, one day, they wouldn’t be able to haul themselves over the line.
The counter-attacking game that Gerrard used so well back in early August doesn’t really suit domestically, certainly against the likes of St Mirren and Livingston when Rangers are expected to dominate possession and win comfortably more often than not.
Rangers have yet to really click away from home this term. Satisfaction is rightly taken from winning matches, but the manner of most of them hasn’t been that convincing.
It took a late Connor Goldson header to edge by Kilmarnock on the opening day of the campaign and Borna Barisic had to produce a moment of magic to see of St
Mirren. A 3-0 win over East Fife was workmanlike, while the game at Livingston in the next round of the Betfred Cup was a tough watch as Rangers never found their rhythm on a night when Gary Holt’s side put themselves about, and overstepped the mark on occasion.
The biggest away victory so far was recorded at McDiarmid Park but even a 4-0 win doesn’t tell the whole story. Rangers were poor in the first half once again but a much-improved showing after the break earned all three points.
When domestic encounters turn into tousy, niggling affairs, Rangers don’t always make their class and quality show as much as it should. They have players capable of mixing it with a physical approach, but should ensure their superior skill shines through rather than allowing the opposition to dictate the tempo and style of the encounter.
In the coming weeks, Rangers will travel to Ross County, Livingston and Hamilton. In December, they visit Pittodrie, Fir Park and Easter Road before the second Old Firm clash of the season at Parkhead.
It is a run that could shape their title ambitions. If Gerrard’s side can start convincing away from home, more fans will start to believe they really have what it takes this term.
THE personal attachment and the professional lure would have been too strong for many players to even think about giving up but Kane RitchieHosler knew he had to cut his ties with Manchester City.
The Premier League giants will still be the club he supports, but it is Rangers he now dreams of playing for.
A lifetime as a fan and a decade as a player ensures the Englishman will always think fondly of City. His time at the Etihad has given the forward a grounding but his breakthrough could now come at Ibrox.
“I am very pleased to be here. It is a massive club and I am grateful to be here,” RitchieHosler said. “I am lucky to have a contract here and I feel it is a better chance to move forward.
“I definitely feel there is a better opportunity here than at Man City and Chelsea so coming up to Scotland will give me more of a chance of playing first-team football.
“It was my childhood club so I do love Manchester City, but in order to progress I had to make the move and I am very fortunate to be here.
“I spent 10 years at City so there is an emotional attachment there for me as well. But I am doing it for football reasons and, even though it was my childhood club, I knew I had to move on to Rangers for the best for my career.
“At City, they were quite separated and you don’t really see the first team that much. They are obviously around but they are on the other side of the campus so you don’t meet them that much. You see them train, though, and that was always good if you got the chance.
“I would say Raheem Sterling was the one I looked up to most. He is very dynamic, very quick and he loves to get a lot of goals, so I look up to him. I like to bring creativity and goals to the team and use my pace, that is how I like to play.”
Given the galaxy of stars at first-team level, and the array of talent in the youth ranks, that City have at their disposal, it is no surprise that Ritchie-Hosler sees a clearer path at Ibrox than was evident as he looked towards Pep Guardiola’s squad.
Rangers have invested significantly, both in time and money, in the Academy system and the 17-year-old hopes Steven Gerrard will reap the rewards of the individual and collective efforts at the Hummel Training Centre.
Ritchie-Hosler said: “The facilities are amazing and will help any player develop. I can see what they are trying to do in terms of getting players through so I couldn’t have asked for much more coming up here.
“The manager is a huge figure in the game so there is no better person to help you after everything that he has done. Not all first-team managers do as much as he does with the Academy and it is great to know that he is looking in.
“We all want to get to the first team so it is encouraging to know that he is watching us and hopefully a few of the boys can impress him.”
The next chance to catch Gerrard’s eye will come in the UEFA Youth League this week as Rangers take on Young Boys.
A 3-3 draw in Switzerland has the tie finely poised ahead of the return leg and
Ludogorets or Slovan Bratislava lie in wait for the Gers kids.
Ritchie-Hosler said: “It is a really strong team and I reckon that if we can get through then we can go really far in the competition. We want to play the best teams in Europe and this competition gives us a chance to really challenge ourselves and show what we can do rather than just playing Scottish teams.
“It is good for us to play these games because it tests you. We want to play the best and, if we can, beat the best as well.”
AS much as Celtic manager Neil Lennon acknowledged last week that the club’s supporters would probably sacrifice the Europa League this season if it meant securing a ninth league title in a row, 60,000 of those fans will be relishing the fact they are involved come Thursday night.
Of course, Celtic would much rather have been welcoming the big Champions League nights back to the East End of Glasgow this season, but as far as the continent’s consolation competition goes, the visit of Lazio will be as close to the real thing as you can get.
That isn’t lost on Ryan Christie, whose anticipation for the game has only been heightened by his frustration at being left kicking his heels in the stand for Saturday’s thumping win over Ross County through suspension after his red card in the defeat at Livingston.
The attacker is champing at the bit to not only make amends for that aberration, but to welcome one of European football’s genuine big guns to Celtic Park, and to show them what it is all about.
“Lazio is huge and it will be great to get back to Parkhead after the Cluj game at home,” Christie said.
“We were all buzzing with that win and this will hopefully be another big European night.
“It will be a great occasion but we also need to match it with a performance. I can’t wait for it and that goes for all the boys.
“It [was] so frustrating to still be serving the suspension. That’s the thing with a red card, it sticks with you for a few weeks. But I’ve kept training hard and been doing some extra running.
“It’s not [been] too long a break and I can hopefully be involved. I’ve kept myself ticking over and it would be good to get the chance to make an impact.
“Lazio are a huge name in European football. I am too young to remember when they won Serie A and were one of the best teams in Europe. But I remember Simone Inzaghi [the current Lazio manager] and his brother [Filippo] playing from when I was younger.
“For me Lazio are an Italian giant, probably just outside Juventus. It will be a brilliant experience to play against them, home and away.
“When the draw was made for the Europa League, you see the big names coming out and you realise how much quality there is in the competition.
“These are the games you look forward to as players and we will be looking to get a result.”
The match is not only of huge significance due to the stature of the opponent involved, but also for Celtic’s prospects of qualifying from Group E. An impressive start to the section from the Scottish champions has seen them pick up a draw against Stade Rennais in France – a match they justifiably felt they might have won – and a convincing home victory over Cluj, their conquerors in the Champions League qualifiers.
That has left Celtic top of the pile going into this game, and if they have designs on staying there, a victory on Thursday evening would be quite the statement of intent.
Another motivating factor is the desire to make Celtic Park a stadium to be feared throughout Europe once more, with the intimidation opponents once felt at the mere mention of its name somewhat diminishing in recent times.
As well as some chastening results at the hands of some of Europe’s leading sides on Champions League duty, there have also been wins on Celtic’s soil for teams like RB Salzburg and Valencia in the Europa League, and,of course, Cluj in qualifying recent times.
Christie hopes that particular trend has now ended, and he is keen to extend the winning run at home in Europe beyond the last two impressive results against AIK, and the revenge victory over Cluj.
“It’s a massive match within the group and we have touched on that as a squad,” he said.
“In a tough section like this, you need to make the most of your home games and use that advantage. When we play at Celtic Park, we always look to get three points.
“The aim coming into the Europa League was to win the home games
and then see what we can do away from home.
“We need to go and back that up now, and hopefully get a good result.”
Celtic’s form may be good so far in the group, but the unpredictability of the section to date means it would be a brave punter who placed any cash on the outcome of this match, or on the other clash on the night between Stade Rennais and Cluj.
That’s why Christie isn’t taking anything for granted despite Celtic being the only team yet to lose a match in the group, believing all four teams to be evenly matched.
“It’s a competitive group and we have already seen that anyone can beat anyone,” he said.
“Cluj were fourth seeds but we have found out how good a team they are. We did well to get a draw in Romania in the Champions League qualifiers.
“Then you see them beating Lazio at home, so they will be looking to pick up points.
“Lazio and Rennes are also good teams so it’s a tough group – but one we hope to do well in.
“We have four points from two games but we want to kick o n from here and get another good result.”
Hibs striker Florian Kamberi is willing to stay and fight for his place at Easter Road, according to Paul Heckingbottom.
Pressure intensified on the Leith manager as Hibs fell to tenth place following their weekend draw with Hamilton Accies while Kamberi, who has fallen out of favour for summer signing Christian Doidge, voiced his unrest about the lack of regular football last week.
Eligible to play for Kosovo, Switzerland and Albania,
Kamberi said he had considered a move away from Hibs as he looks towards this summer’s European Championships.
Switzerland and Kosovo both look on course to qualify for the tournament and the striker is well aware he needs regular playing time if he is to be considered for full international honours.
Heckinbottom, however, has insisted Kamberi has told him he wants to stay and prove his worth to the team.
“Everyone wants to play and start every single player at every single club so that’s no different. So any player who does not think like that, where are they going to end up?” said the under pressure Heckingbottom.
“They are going to end up at the lowest level possible where they are going to play every week. You have to have some drive, some ambition, definitely, but I think Flo also said, and I know for a fact it’s what he thinks, that he’s fighting tooth and nail to get in the team.
“He wants to be here, he wants to play for us, he wants to be in our team. That’s all that matters.”
Livingston have been dealt another injury blow after it emerged defender Cece Pepe has been sidelined by a calf injury.
The former PSG and Marseille trainee picked up the problem in a reserve match last week and manager Gary Holt fears the Frenchman could be ruled out for “a fair spell”.
It is the latest injury problem to affect the Almondvale squad, with the influential Scott Pittman, attacker Chris Erskine and summer signing Ibrahima Savane all out, and skipper Alan Lithgow and striker Lyndon Dykes only passing late fitness tests to feature at the weekend.
Holt said: “Everyone’s different so we’ll let it settle down and assess it. But I can’t see him playing again in the next couple of weeks.”
WHEN Scottish Rugby announced Dave Rennie was to be the new Glasgow Warriors coach, the capture of such a successful individual was hailed as a real coup. It was widely understood at the time that, far from hankering after a long-term stay in Scotland, the New Zealander was heading north in a bid to further his coaching ambitions and that, sooner or later, he would move again, this time far closer to home.
That announcement was made in the summer of 2016, with Rennie’s reign beginning a year later, once Gregor Townsend had left Glasgow to take over Scotland. While Rennie has since settled here perfectly happily and talked of his affinity with the Scottish people, he has done nothing to undermine the impression that his stay in these parts will be strictly temporary.
In fact, that impression was strengthened earlier this year when he agreed just a one-year extension to his Warriors contract, meaning he will be free to leave at the end of this season.
Now 55, Rennie fits the age and experience profile of leading international coaches such as Joe Schmidt and Warren Gatland and, having coached in Super Rugby and at national age-group level as well as in the PRO14, he is well placed to make the step up to the Test arena.
So it is perfectly understandable that he should be Australia’s first choice to replace Michael Cheika, who resigned as head coach after the Wallabies lost their World Cup quarter-final to England at the weekend. Perfectly understandable, too, that he seems sure to accept an offer should one arise.
When he was first connected with what was then a potential vacancy back in the spring, Rennie insisted no-one from Rugby Australia had been in touch with him, and suggested they would be looking for someone to come in straight after the World Cup.
That would mean breaking his
Warriors contract – something, he said, he would not be prepared to do.
Well, the vacancy is now a real one, and Rennie appears to remain the governing body’s No.1 target.
It has also become clear the Wallabies are in no rush to have someone in position: the Rugby Championship is not until next summer and, in the meantime, director of rugby Scott Johnson can take charge of any relevant business for the national team.
One reason Rennie is likely to accept any offer that arises is the fact he maintains close family ties in New Zealand. Another reason, as stated above, is his ambition. His ultimate aim has to be coaching the All Blacks, and what better way to audition for that job than to do well against the team while in charge of another side?
Just as importantly, though, he may well conclude that beyond this season he would be unable to take the Warriors on much further.
Rennie got Glasgow to the
PRO14 semi-finals in his first season in charge and followed that up by reaching the 2018-19 final.
After failing to get out of their Champions Cup pool in 2017-18, they got to the quarter-finals in the last campaign. So the progress has been clear to see.
It may be a bit early to read too much into results so far this season and, of course, to date Glasgow have been without many of their leading players because of the
World Cup.
Nonetheless, their at-best patchy form in winning one and losing two of their three PRO14 matches to date contrasts with their form during the Six Nations when, again missing most of their Scotland players, they won five games on the bounce.
What is more, it may be only when all teams are back to full strength that the real cost to Glasgow of losing Stuart Hogg becomes apparent. At least when Finn Russell left there was a ready
made replacement in Adam Hastings – a younger player with a bright Test future ahead of him.
There was – and is – the potential for Hastings to outshine Russell in time, but you could not say the same of the two players competing to fill Hogg’s No.15 jersey, Ruaridh Jackson and Glenn Bryce.
Of course it is no disgrace to be outshone by Hogg, but it is surely telling that Glasgow were unable or unwilling to go into the transfer market to try to find a similar marquee player. It may also influence Rennie into deciding that his present employers do not match up to his own ambitions, and that he should therefore head off for paddocks new.
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TOMORROW
Champions League, Ajax v Chelsea - BT Sport 3 1715; Genk v Liverpool - BT Sport 2 1900; Inter Milan v Borussia Dortmund - BT Sport/ESPN 1945; RB Leipzig v Zenit - BT Sport 1 1730; Championship, Huddersfield v Middlesbrough - Sky Sports Main Event 1930.
World T20 qualifiers, Ireland v Canada - Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Cricket 1100; Hong Kong v Jersey - Sky Sports Cricket 1620 & Sky Sports Main Event 1630.
WTA, Zhuhai - BT Sport 1 0800.
NBA, Philadelphia 76ers v Boston Celtics - Sky Sports Main Event 0100 (Thur).
World Series, Houston Astros v Washington Nationals - BT Sport 1 0030 (Thur).