Sent to Coventry by Joe
Joe Aribo celebrates after breaking the deadlock in Rangers’ closed-doors friendly against Coventry City yesterday.
RANGERS 2 Aribo (50), Goldson (67) COVENTRY CITY 0
Like every manager approaching a new season, Steven Gerrard has few issues to ponder.
Perhaps his main one is how to get Alfredo Morelos back on the goal trail. The Colombian is constantly linked with a move away from Ibrox and that’s because of his spells when he’s lethal in front of goal.
Morelos was banging them in with ease at the start of last term, but hitting the net has proved a lot more difficult since the winter break.
He failed with a couple of decent chances against Coventry City yesterday.
There hasn’t been a goal from the 24-year-old in pre-season and that has to be a concern for Gerrard.
He was taken off after 61 minutes of the game, looking far from pleased at being replaced.
Rangers continued their Premiership preparations with a comfortable victory.
There wasn’t the as much of the verve that brought them success during two games in France and a win against Motherwell.
But this was the style of encounter Rangers can expect to experience during the upcoming season – most of their opponents will sit back, attempt to close down the wide areas and frustrate the home side.
Coventry came to Ibrox with manager, Mark Robins, saying the game came a little too early in their pre-season preparations.
It was their first outing since they secured the League One title four months ago. That layoff ensure they wouldn’t be too ambitious in their play.
Their use of this friendly was made clear when they made nine substitutions at half-time.
Rangers boss Steven Gerrard was looking at things differently.
His men have a few matches under their belt and he’s now doing the fine tuning for the big restart against Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Saturday.
Gerrard fielded what many will feel is currently his first-choice starting 11.
The missing Steven Davis is likely to come back into the reckoning when fit.
Centre-back Filip Helander made his comeback after being out since suffering an injury in the League Cup Final last December. He should be pushing for a place because of the injury suffered by Niko Katic, but it looks like George Edmundson will start the season alongside Connor Goldson.
Helander still looks rusty and new signing Leon Balogun has domestic issues to sort out.
Coventry, captained by former Kilmarnock midfielder Liam Kelly, started slowly and allowed the home side plenty of possession.
Hagi had a shot from close range blocked and Morelos sent a header looping wide from the centre of the penalty box.
The visitors made things a little more difficult for the Light Blues, although Morelos had another opportunity that he couldn’t make count.
Ryan Kent is a man expected to create openings but didn’t have one of his more productive days.
He did have one thumping shot saved by keeper Ben Wilson.
Rangers took the lead when Aribo played a one-two with Morelos and shot low into the corner of the net.
A second came when Goldson headed home a Tavernier free-kick.
That just after the skipper had headed wide from very close in.
Victories keep coming and that will delight the Ibrox fans.
This season could be like no other and stopping Celtic making it 10-in-a-row will only happen if Rangers show a consistency that has eluded them in recent season.