TALKING RANGERS
ONE is old, one is new, one is borrowed, one is blue. Together, Kenny Miller and Emerson Hyndman were a match made in heaven for Rangers on Saturday.
As Hyndman announced himself on the Premiership stage, Miller proved once again, as if any further evidence was required, that he remains the finest forward at Ibrox.
The pair combined to see off Motherwell in the Scottish Cup as the on-loan Bournemouth kid collected Stephen McManus’s wayward pass and set his experienced team-mate through to hit the winner.
At Fir Park, Hyndman showed a maturity beyond his years with an accomplished midfield performance, while Miller was in the right place at the right time and got the goal that his endeavours deserved.
Having seen Aberdeen climb to second spot in the standings on Friday night, Rangers had to respond on Saturday afternoon.
This wasn’t their finest showing as a team this term, but they earned three points and proved another with a resolute display.
After just four minutes boss Mark Warburton and the travelling Gers support were faced with the worst-case scenario as Michael O’Halloran saw red.
Come the end of a competitive top-flight tussle, they would have wondered why they had any doubts as another win was added to their Premiership tally.
This was a test of Rangers’ mental resolve as much as their tactical approach and natural ability.
It was a day where their opponents had to be worn down and a result ground out.
The two goals from Miller and Hyndman and two red cards shown to O’Halloran and Scott McDonald were the talking points in Lanarkshire on a day when the quality was low but the stakes were high.
Motherwell would have had revenge in mind as they attempted to repair some of the self-inflicted damage from seven days previously when they had a Scottish Cup win in their sights but let a fifthround spot slip through their grasps.
Mark McGhee’s side were presented with the perfect opportunity but couldn’t capitalise on their numerical advantage before Rangers regrouped and eventually emerged as comfortable winners.
A goal in the minutes after O’Halloran was sent off for his challenge on Carl McHugh would have left Warburton’s side with a mountain to climb. It was the dismissal of McDon- ald that proved to be the turning point in the game, though.
Nobody in Light Blue could have had a complaint when O’Halloran returned to the dressing room just seconds after he had strode out of the tunnel.
There was no malice in the tackle, but it was clumsy and undoubtedly painful for McHugh and referee Willie Collum had no choice but to go straight to his top pocket.
AT THAT stage, it was about survival for Rangers and Warburton’s side weathered the storm as the Englishman shuffled his system and Motherwell saw chances come and go without reward.
When it became 10 versus 10, the ball was back in Rangers’ court. For some, the decision to send McDonald off was not as clear cut as Collum’s first big call but it was another one that th e whistler go t right.
The Aussie striker was left bewildered by the