Missed opportunities but Rangers make their point
Exceptional goalkeeping keeps Championship leaders at bay until eight minutes left
IT was quite a day for missed opportunities in the Championship on Saturday.
For Rangers, the spurned chances came up front against Alloa. They hit the post. They struck the crossbar. They headed and shot wide of an inviting net. They saw goalbound efforts swatted aside as one of their former players produced an exceptional goalkeeping display.
Hibs, their nearest challengers, were also left to rue their lack of ruthlessness in the final third against Livingston away later on. But the biggest opening the capital club failed to take advantage of was the one which had been presented to them in the league.
Alan Stubbs’ second-placed side, who have a game in hand, could have reduced the lead held by Mark Warburton’s team in the second tier table to six points if they had triumphed against opponents in second bottom spot. They failed to do so.
It was, no doubt about it, a let off for Rangers. A club needs to do many things during the course of a season in order to be crowned champions. They must defend reliably, avoid serious injuries to key players, win the battle in midfield and be clinical in attack. But they also need their fair share of good fortune too.
The Ibrox club got lucky and then some at the weekend. The 1-1 draw with Alloa may not, at first glance, seem as important as, say, their win over Hibs back at the end of the December. It could, though, well prove to be a defining moment in their quest to secure a place in the Premiership.
If Rangers do succeed in winning promotion to the top flight in the 2015/16 campaign they won’t miss their trips to the Indodrill Stadium. They have failed to win three of their games at the venue in the last two seasons.
That was nothing whatsoever to do with an artificial surface which had, amid something of an outcry, been narrowed by 10 yards to favour the home team. No, the visitors were comfortably the better side at the weekend. The statistics proved that emphatically. They won 23 corners in total, their opponents just two.
With Harry Forrester brought in alongside Jason Holt in central midfield and Michael O’Halloran handed his debut out wide, Rangers dominated large swathes of this encounter. Only their inability to convert let them down.
The showing of Scott Gallacher, released by the Glasgow club two years ago, had much to do with that. The keeper was in inspired form and recorded a series of fine blocks and spectacular saves throughout the 90 minutes. His effort at a James Tavernier header at the death effectively ensured his side earned a point.
“We had to handle the pressure and make sure everyone was tight,” said Gallacher. “Rangers were always going to be dominant. They have good players. But we were tight and defended well.
“We took our chance when it came and gave a really good account of ourselves.
“It was a great match. We were actually unlucky not to go on and win it. We are fighting for our lives and need as many points on the board as possible. So it was a good draw for us.”
Jack Ross’s side netted on the hour mark at a Mitch Megginson corner. Jason Marr met his teammate’s delivery with his head and Wes Foderingham was unable to keep it out.
O’Halloran, a £500,000 acquisition from St Johnstone during the January transfer window, was, to be perfectly blunt, anonymous during much of his first appearance for his new club. He was highly fortunate that Forrester, who was excellent, Holt and Martyn Waghorn were all substituted ahead of him.
Yet, the winger took his goal well with eight minutes remaining. There was considerable pressure on him to score and he showed great composure to do so. He was unlucky not to net a second after that following a mazy run into the Alloa area.
Kenny Miller believes O’Halloran’s arrival, along with that of Forrester and Billy King, has increased Warburton’s options in attack considerably and should ensure they have no difficulty netting in the final weeks and months of the season.
“The manager is trying to build a squad where competition for places is fierce,” he said. “Up front, more than anywhere, I would say there is real competition. It’s great when you can chop and change and let people play who can come in who can do just as good a job.
“Alloa was a disappointing result, no doubt about it. But I did feel the performance was a decent performance. The things the manager wants us to do, we did. We had enough chances to win three games. We never took them. Simple as that.”
Rangers managed to maintain their cushion over their greatest rivals Hibs, as well as Falkirk who could only draw at home with Raith Rovers, despite their inability to overcome part-time Alloa. If they fail to rediscover their touch in front of goal in the remaining games of the season they may not be so fortunate.
It was a great match. We were actually unlucky not to go on and win it. We are fighting for our lives and need as many points on theboard as possible