Dundee will be tough... but 4-0 cup win did not flatter us
MARK WARBURTON has heard before how hard it is for Rangers to beat Dundee. Last season, the Ibrox manager was warned to expect a Scottish Cup quarter-final which would be a lot different from what he was experiencing in the Championship.
However, a goal after 13 seconds changed things.
Dundee scurried out of Glasgow thankful to have lost just 4-0. That Cup game remains the best Rangers performance under the Englishman’s tenure. It shifted expectations.
The Final in May dampened them quickly. Defeat to Hibs reminded everyone, Warburton included, of work still to be done. Last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Hamilton was a timely reminder that, once again, Rangers have a game on their hands at Dens Park today.
‘I think a lot of teams come to Ibrox and say: “Don’t concede in the first 20 minutes. Don’t let Rangers score early and run the game”,’ said Warburton.
‘Well, we scored after 20 seconds or so. From Dundee’s perspective, the game plan changed and I thought we were good that day.
‘We created a lot of chances. I don’t think 4-0 flattered us — and Paul Hartley said that after the game.
‘Dundee had a good result against Celtic the game before. I said at the time that the gap between the top of the Championship and the Premiership is nothing like it is down south because of the money.
‘There is no doubt Saturday will be a tough test. We are well aware they’ve gone to Ross County and got a good result in the first game of the season. They will be in confident mood and they have quality players.
‘All I am being told is how tough a place it is to go. I have never been there before. But we are in good shape and we are looking forward to the game.’
A week into the season, it’s too soon to predict whether Rangers might present a real and present threat to Celtic.
The clubs play for the first time at Parkhead on September 10. That game will answer questions over the Ibrox club’s ability to launch a sustained title challenge.
Yet Warburton argues his side have been answering questions since the day he arrived.
‘We got a lot of abuse after the St Johnstone game last season when people talked about the gap between the Championship and the Premiership,’ he said. ‘I didn’t see it as a question to be answered.
‘That day against Dundee, we gave a good performance. The crowd enjoyed it and the players enjoyed it. But it was just one game and we had to move on from there.
‘We had a good performance against Celtic but we lost the Cup Final, so we need to look at the bad points and learn from that as well.’
Birmingham City last night captured Dundee striker Greg Stewart for a fee thought to be in the region of £500,000. His exit will weaken the Dark Blues while doing Rangers no harm at all.
Persistently linked with the striker himself last season, Warburton (right) suspects the Midlands outfit have got themselves a bargain.
‘I’m never going to talk about another Scottish team,’ he said. ‘But, as I read it, a bid was accepted. And, if that’s right, you’ve got to look at it value-wise and say surely that’s cheap — especially with what’s being paid down south.
‘I grew up as a young football fan watching all the top Scottish players down south. Top-quality Scots players, and now I am being told there are no players in Scotland. I find that incredible. There has to be talent up here.’ Where it doesn’t exist, the Ibrox boss imports it, using the Bosman market to sign nine players in the summer. Jordan Rossiter’s summer arrival from Liverpool raised eyebrows. So far, Warburton has yet to find the best
blend in midfield, where options exist, and Rossiter is in contention for Dens.
‘He is one of the squad that I would have no hesitation using. He might start Saturday, he might not start Saturday,’ said Warburton.
‘But you saw on Tuesday against Peterhead, whether we play Joey (Barton), Andy (Halliday), Jordan or Matt Crooks when he is fit, it doesn’t bother us. You have to trust the squad.’
Warburton is happy with the squad he has, but still hopes to add one or two more.
Rotherham’s capture of Tottenham defender Dominic Ball, who was on loan at Ibrox last term, was a blow, but rumours of an interest in striker Joe Garner of Preston refuse to abate.
At a time when Old Firm counterpart Brendan Rodgers is signing £3m-plus wingers like Scott Sinclair, the pressure to maintain progress is ever present.
‘I know Brendan and he would not have gone there without reassurance that he can mould the squad as he sees fit,’ said Warburton.
‘That goes for any manager, so I’m not just talking about Brendan.
‘Managers at his level need the reassurances that they can put their stamp on the squad. And that’s what I think he’ll do.
‘They will look to add one or two more as well, as will we.
‘But we’re not misunderstanding the size of the challenge. We know about the quality of their squad like we know the quality of Aberdeen and Hearts. But that’s why you come to Rangers.’
Asked if he might also be in a position to throw millions at a new signing if he desires, Warburton was non-committal. How much a club spends, he believes, is less important than how they spend it.
‘I’m not going to talk about that. I’m not going to mention what our budget strength is,’ he added.
‘The board have backed us from day one. I think we surprised a few people with who we got in the summer but, hopefully, we can surprise people again with one or two more.
‘But the board have been first class.
‘Look at Jordan Rossiter at 19. When you look at some of the fees being paid for players down south, we got great value there. The same with Joe Dodoo, a very talented player.
‘Joey Barton could go and play in the Premier League. You could attach values to these players but it’s how you use your money.
‘We put forward names and our job is to keep pushing. As a football department, you’ve got to keep pushing. I said to Stewart Robertson (managing director): “The day we stop asking is the day you should be concerned”. That’s how our job works.’