STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU: GERRARD HAS DILEMMA
THE ghosts of seasons past continue to haunt Rangers. The demons that have plagued Steven Gerrard’s side must be exorcised if third time lucky isn’t to become three and out.
The stalemate against Livingston on Sunday was a draw that felt like a defeat to a support that have become fed up of watching that particular movie. Time will tell how costly it proves to be in the grand scheme of things but it was enough to send a shiver down the spine of those that fear the same mistakes will lead to a familiar outcome in the Premiership.
Fans are always liable to overreact and to push the panic button in such situations and while there is no need for Gerrard to do the same, there will be a stark realisation within himself and his staff that afternoons such as that cannot be repeated too often this season.
Rangers’ inability to overcome inferior opposition has already cost them the chance to win two Premiership titles and the stakes are too significant at Ibrox for those same failings – particularly from middle to front – to materialise once again.
Four clean sheets from as many games at the start of the campaign is an admirable record and one not recorded since the Iron Curtain era of the 1949/50 campaign. It has to be noted, though, that all of those opponents – Aberdeen, St Mirren, St Johnstone and Livingston – haven’t exactly carried a sustained threat during their respective fixtures as they set out to play for a point.
The same will be expected of Kilmarnock this weekend. The task of coming up against such defensive minded setups – Holt’s side regularly had six or seven bodies in their backline – is nothing new to Rangers, yet games such as that one highlight just how important it is that Gerrard finds the answers, and quickly.
If Rangers had won on Sunday, it would barely have been noted in the end of season reviews. Should they now not go on and win the title, it will be pinpointed as the one of the reasons why once again.
Yes, it could be put down to one of those days. But Rangers have had those days too often and when history repeats itself as regularly it is only natural that fears over what lies ahead come to the fore and they start to get written off in a wave of anger and frustration.
With Celtic out of action until teatime on Saturday when they face Dundee United, the trip to face Livingston was the second game of three that Rangers had to win to open up an 11-point advantage in the title race. Once again, when the opportunity was there to exert some pressure and make a statement, they failed to do so and the reaction from the support was understandable.
The ire was directed at Gerrard for starting with and then sticking with the midfield two of Ryan Jack and Glen Kamara. Against teams that have no interest in playing on the front foot, there is less requirement, and perhaps none at all, for two more defensive minded players in the middle of the pitch and the line-up against Killie on Saturday will be telling.
It is an area that Gerrard likes to control and both Jack and Kamara allow Rangers to do that given that they are tactically astute and disciplined and composed in possession.
One should have been sacrificed going into the closing stages on Sunday but Gerrard didn’t have that necessary option on his bench.
Filling that spot is now the top priority in the remainder of this transfer window as Gerrard looks to add another midfield element, a player that can be box-to-box or that has the vision to move the ball quicker and split defences with incisive passing.
The loss of Joe Aribo through injury undoubtedly hurt Rangers’ chances. He may not solely be the saviour, but his return at Ibrox would certainly give Gerrard’s side a different dimension against an opponent who have caused their fair share of troubles in recent times.
Gerrard pinpointed his “match winners” after the game on Sunday and he needs his big players to come to the fore against Killie. A resounding win would go some way to easing the tension in the support.
Ianis Hagi offered very little against St Johnstone and Livingston, while Ryan Kent couldn’t find the quality to match his commitment on Sunday. Alfredo Morelos was largely ineffective and was marshalled out of the game by a Livingston side that got back to doing what they do best.
Again, there is an argument that Gerrard got it wrong by replacing Morelos with Cedric Itten with 20 minutes remaining, yet there were examples last term of Rangers just throwing bodies at a problem and hoping for the best as they became increasingly desperate in matches. When you factor in Borna Barisic and James Tavernier supporting from deep, it was a lack of nous on the ball that cost Rangers not a shortage of players that should have been capable of carving open the Lions pack.
Gerrard spoke about working harder on their “relationships” in the final third and improvement will only come with time as Itten and Kemar Roofe look to make an impact. Roofe in particular has plenty of weight on his shoulders and it will be interesting to see how Gerrard incorporates him into the side once fully up to speed. Someone – probably Kamara – will have to drop out when the opponent permits and Kilmarnock at home may be one such occasion.
Not having a midweek fixture this time around means the feelings of despair will linger on until Saturday. Rangers must make the most of the schedule and their time on the training pitch.
If Gerrard cannot find a solution to this problem now, it is unlikely he ever will. He need not be told what the outcome will be third time around.
ANALYSIS CHRIS JACK