Granite City test holds no fears for rock-solid Rangers
GERRARD SO IMPRESSED BY HIS SIDE’S PROGRESS SINCE THEIR OPENING-DAY WIN AT PITTODRIE
WHEN Steven Gerrard described his team’s opening-day victory in the Granite City as laying down ‘a marker’, there were naturally questions as to whether they had the tools to build something special.
So far, so good. Rangers remain rock-solid and the signs of the side crumbling under the pressure of winning their first league title in 10 years have not yet appeared.
A new year brings fresh hope. With each win, every hurdle conquered, the Premiership leaders are moving closer to the crown.
But there will always be caution. Rangers, remember, have had a habit in previous years of tripping up spectacularly in the second half of recent seasons.
Last week’s triumph against 10-man Celtic wasn’t exactly exquisite but it was very much a case of job done to move 19 points clear of their rivals, who still have three games in hand.
A return to face Aberdeen at Pittodrie this afternoon will be another test of how far Gerrard’s men have come.
Back in August, Ryan Kent’s strike proved enough to get Rangers off to a winning start. Again, the performance against Derek McInnes’ men wasn’t vintage as football returned to league business following months of uncertainty caused by coronavirus. But it proved to be the start of a pattern with regards to how Rangers have passed each examination this term.
‘The first fixture at Pittodrie was a real tough fixture for us when they came out,’ said Gerrard. ‘It was a challenge for us to go up there for the first away game of the season, up against a good coach who has his team well-drilled.
‘The rivalry goes without saying but it was different going up to Pittodrie. It was a lot calmer in terms of the atmosphere. To play in an empty stadium is different.
‘It’s still going to be a tough game but we’re looking forward to the challenge at the weekend. They will have players back, they are in a decent period of form themselves, so it should be a fantastic match for everyone on the outside. But, for me, the challenge is to go up there and try to get the three points and try to find the best performance from a Rangers point of view.’
Apart from a shock quarter-final defeat at St Mirren in the Betfred Cup last month, Rangers have been enjoying their winning habit.
With only five goals conceded in the Premiership, there is further proof that the Ibrox men’s defence is now made of much stronger stuff compared to previous seasons.
Against Celtic last week, Nigerian international Leon Balogun — who arrived only in the summer — started in place of Filip Helander and impressed alongside Connor Goldson at the heart of the backline. The same duo started in that first win of the season against the Dons.
Gerrard has shifted his defensive options during the campaign, but it has not changed his team’s rhythm or drive to seal crucial points.
Captain and right-back James Tavernier leads the scoring charts with 17 goals in all competitions, while Croatian Borna Barisic continues to impress on the left.
Goalkeeper Allan McGregor, who turns 39 at the end of this month, further highlighted his importance with crucial saves in last week’s Old Firm derby, one of which was widely praised as being ‘world-class’ from a Leigh Griffiths attempt.
Fellow stopper Jon McLaughlin, who has made 11 appearances this season, has also earned the trust of Gerrard.
The manager is impressed by his team’s ‘identity’. Facing an Aberdeen side who are unbeaten in the league since a 4-0 defeat at Ibrox in November, Gerrard wants more of the same from his troops.
Apart from that slip-up against St Mirren, the Rangers manager is pleased his players are responding to bumps in the road, even if they have cropped up only on rare occasions.
‘I think having the players for a few seasons certainly helps in terms of getting them used to our organisation and how we want to play, in what we demand out of possession in terms of the speed of covering the grass,’ he said.
‘Everyone is well-drilled and everyone knows what they need to do in their role within that. I have got to give them immense credit for putting their body on the line and the application they put in their training and preparation.
‘It helps having two top-class goalkeepers behind that defensive
structure and I think everyone has really bought into what we need to do when we turn the ball over or are not in possession.
‘That has basically been the base for us to go and attack well from. They are related in terms of our identity and so far, so good.
‘We had that off night at St Mirren, which was a bit of a blow to us but sometimes you need a setback or a wobble to reset.
‘I think we have done well since that point. We need to continue from that.’
A free week since beating Celtic has allowed Gerrard some welcome time to develop things on the training pitch.
While Neil Lennon’s men have raised questions with their journey to Dubai rather than staying in Scotland, the Ibrox boss hopes the work for his players will pay off ahead of today’s trip to Aberdeen.
‘I think it has been nice, first and foremost, to give the players a day or two in terms of giving them some family time,’ said Gerrard. ‘They made some sacrifices over the December schedule and then to have the week for training prep has been very welcome.
‘It gives you the opportunity to train more in 11 v 11 situations, in big spaces and to be rehearsed and practise the real game. Normally when you go Sunday-Thursday-Sunday, or you have midweek games, it is about training, recovering and getting ready for the next one.
‘There is very little time on the training pitch, so we try to use this one as best we can in terms of resetting and getting ready for the challenges that are ahead.’
Scott Arfield’s absence from the team for ‘four to five weeks’ with an ankle ligament injury is a blow to Gerrard. Ryan Jack remains missing for Rangers but is expected to return from injury next week.
The Ibrox side suffered a further blow when Kemar Roofe was forced off at half-time against Celtic. The striker will be absent from Pittodrie and could miss the next couple of games.
‘He’s another one who is progressing well,’ added Gerrard. ‘He’s not available for the weekend. I’ll have to give you another update after the weekend on that one because it’s a small muscle injury.
‘With some people these progress really quick and with other people you have to take each day as it comes and progress it.
‘I don’t think he will be missing for too long but he will certainly be missing this weekend.’