RANGERS LAP UP THE PARTY SPIRIT
Van Bronckhorst’s side take care of domestic business as fans gear up for Euro final
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HE first step on the road to Seville has been taken. This was a case of one down, two to go before Rangers have their shot at Europa League glory.
It is that ambition that dominates the agenda right now. Rangers are just counting down the days until the meeting with Eintracht Frankfurt and what could be their crowning moment on the continent.
There was an end-of-season feel around the action on the park at times here but events off it were a constant reminder that this campaign is far from finished as Dundee United were beaten.
The final fixtures of their season as champions are almost an inconvenience now. The Scottish Cup showpiece at Hampden could be the cherry on the cake rather than the consolation as manager Giovanni Van Bronckhorst and his players dare to dream of a remarkable double this month.
This is a season that promised much but threatened to deliver little. Now it could go down as the most cherished in a generation, and perhaps even of all time.
It was one of the heroes of the win over RB Leipzig who earned the win here as James Tavernier continued his incredible season with his 17th goal.
The other came from
Amad Diallo on a day that was as satisfactory as it was celebratory for Rangers.
Supporters arrived sporting sombreros and holding beach balls under their arms. Inflatables were scattered around the stands as the aforementioned balls were bounced up and down the rows and accumulated at the side of the pitch. A chant of “We’re the famous Glasgow Rangers and we’re going to Seville” was followed by a rendition of “Y Viva Espana” over the PA system. Ibrox was in party mode once again.
Many would still have been feeling the effects of the last one here on Thursday night and recent days have been spent recovering physically and emotionally.
It was an occasion that took a toll, one which will never be forgotten.
Should Rangers go all the way and lift the silverware in Seville, the scenes will be even more historic in a sporting sense, but it will be a long time before Ibrox ever plays host to an occasion as memorable. It was the best ever, one which may never be beaten.
The win over Leipzig would have been the main topic of conversation as fans took their seats once again. As the sun shone, they could bask in the glory of European achievement.
This fixture posed its own difficulty for Van Bronckhorst and the same can be said about the meetings with Ross County and Hearts. There is a balance to be struck between rest, rotation and results for Rangers.
It is not as simple as utilising the fringe players and kids and wrapping up the key men in cotton wool for the next week.
Risks cannot be taken, of course, but Van Bronckhorst cannot allow the momentum and the sharpness to drift in the build-up to Frankfurt.
As a result, it was no surprise to see a strong side here. Aaron Ramsey returned after injury, but there was still no place in the squad for Kemar Roofe as Allan McGregor and Ryan Jack were rested.
This was a chance for the likes of Leon King and James Sands to make an impression, while Steven Davis strolled through the afternoon with typical class. The day after signing a new one-year contract at Ibrox, Scott Arfield completed an attacking line that also included Scott Wright and Fashion Sakala.
It was the Zambian who had the first opportunity of the afternoon. After collecting a loose ball, he burst forward purposefully and into the area but his low strike was saved by Benjamin Siegrist.
The United keeper was certainly, and not surprisingly, the busier of the two shotstoppers as Jon McLaughlin was rarely involved at the other end of the park. That was indicative of the dominance that Rangers enjoyed in terms of possession.
Siegrist saved smartly after a lovely move involving Davis and Arfield, while Sakala really should have opened the scoring as he twisted and turned in the area and missed the target from 12 yards.
When Tavernier got his chance from the same distance, the captain showed Sakala how it should be done. Once again, he was spot on after Siegrist had wiped out the Zambian.
As the clock ticked towards 55 minutes, Tavernier waited. His strike was clinical and placed perfectly into the right of the net as Ibrox had a reason to celebrate once again.
Ross Graham angered the home crowd with two crude challenges on substitute Diallo in quick succession. The fury towards Graham was matched only by that towards referee Steven MacLean but Diallo did not let the rough treatment get to him as he sought to make the most of his chance after replacing Wright at the interval.
There was soon an opportunity for Alex Lowry to show why fans were so chuffed to see him sign his new deal on Saturday. As Borna Barisic and Tavernier – who was given a rapturous round of applause
– made way, Charlie McCann got another run-out and Adam Devine was handed his debut.
United’s best chance came when Connor Goldson almost inadvertently found his own net with a wayward pass back to McLaughlin. As the defender stood with his head in his hands, his keeper spared his blushes just in the nick of time.
The second goal arrived with 12 minutes remaining. Sakala provided the pass and Diallo did the rest with a dinked finish to round off an encouraging showing.
The points earned will ultimately prove irrelevant this month, but the performance was accomplished, the positives plentiful for Van Bronckhorst.
It was job done, the first one ticked off.
Two more must now be taken care of before the big one can take centre stage in Seville as Rangers attempt to write their name in the history books and Ibrox folklore.
The final cannot come quick enough. Soon, Rangers will be on their way and off to sunny Spain.