It’s all bright on the night
GVB was left in dark by Portugal mess but his Gers light up Bloomfield
Blackpool ...................... 1 Rangers ......................... 2 The famous illuminations in Blackpool are still well over a month away from getting their big switch-on for 2022.
But a week on from the blackout in the Algarve, Rangers flicked the button on their pre- season as they lit- up blazing-hot Bloomfield with a sparkling second-half show.
The mood of the large travelling Light Blues support who had swapped the Clyde for the Fylde coast might have been darkened with the absence of in- demand Calvin Bassey from the squad with Ajax and Brighton fighting for his services.
But with new boy Malik Tillman watching on from the stands and fellow summer signing Antonio Colak getting a 78-minute run-out, there was plenty to brighten the senses in a 2-1 win courtesy of goals from Borna Barisic and Charlie McCann.
Rabbi Matondo and John Souttar also made their first appearances as second- half subs on an afternoon where Gio Van Bronckhorst will have been heartened by the intensity of his side’s display after last week’s farcical abandonment against Sunderland.
While Colak was left waiting for his first Rangers goal after being denied by an offside f lag, it was another Croatia international who lit the fuse as Barisic swept a beautiful opener after 50 minutes before substitute McCann netted his first top-team goal 14 minutes from time.
Officially 8000 Gers fans were inside Bloomfield but in truth more than half the ground was taken up by the travel l ing fans with thousands more lining the famous seafront on the traditional Glasgow Fair weekend.
And they lapped up their side’s performance in the seaside sunshine ahead of this week’s Ibrox friendlies against West Ham and Tottenham.
James Sands took Bassey’s left central defensive slot beside Connor Goldson and the duo had their hands full with the hulking presence of Championship
veteran Gary Madine putting himself about. Behind them Allan McGregor started in goal for the first time since his decision to play on for another year.
And it was the 40-year-old who had the first scare when Sonny Carey blasted wildly over after Ryan Kent had been dispossessed.
It was a typical pre-season pace but Rangers were comfortable in the blazing seaside sunshine and Colak was putting in a power of work against veteran Richard Keogh supported well by Glen Kamara at the head of the middle three.
Strikers never like to wait about for a first goal and Colak thought he’d broke his duck after 29 minutes only for his side-footed effort from James Tavernier’s low cross to be disallowed for offside.
Rangers made a treble change at the break with Jon McLaughlin, Steven Davis and Scott Arf ield replacing McGregor, Kamara and Jack.
And within five minutes of the restart they had the breakthrough through Barisic. The left-back won the ball in the corner after Tavernier’s cross had evaded everyone before driftingng inside and bending a brilliant effort bbeyond d Daniel Grimshaw with his right foot.
Colak was involved again soon after when he laid a Scott Wright ball perfectly into the path of Tavernier only for the skipper’s shot to be deflected wide.
Kent then forced a good save from Grimshaw as he cut in off the left and his dipping effort had to be touched over the bar by the flying keeper.
Rangers were shifting up through the gears and another series of subs saw Souttar, Tom Lawrence and Matondo thrown on for their debuts alongside youngsters McCann, Leon King and Adam Devine.
Souttar was denied a quick fire first goal in light blue when his half volley from Niko Katic’s knock down was blocked by Grimshaw.
And Matondo gave a glimpse of his blistering pace when he turned on the afterburners down the right flank to leave Scotland Under-19 ace Rob Apter trailing only for his cut back to flash across goal.
The Wales international looks the real deal and bulged the side-net in theh 73rdd minute afterf anotherh rapid d burst inside off the right flank.
Three minutes later it was 2- 0 as McCann control led a half vol ley expertly to arrow home from 18 yards after a corner from the right had been half cleared.
The only blot for the Ibrox side arrived in 88 minutes when Blackpool sub Beryly Lubala slotted past McLaughlin after finding space in the box.
But it was little more than a consolation for the Championship side. RANGERS: McGregor 6 ( McLaughl in 46, 6), Tavernier 7 (Souttar 61, 5), Goldson 6 ( King 61, 5), Sands 6 ( Katic 61, 5), Barisic 7 (Devine 61, 5), Jack 6 (Davis 46, 6), Kamara 7 (Arfield 46, 6), Lundstram 6 (Lawrence 61, 5), Wright 6 (Matondo 61, 5), Colak 7 (Middleton 78, 3), Kent 6 (McCann 61, 5). Not used: McCrorie, Zukowski, Kelly.