Kai Watson: Danny Rohl's Rampant Rangers
What a difference a week makes in football, particularly in Scotland. Just last week I was writing about how poor Rangers were in attack against Hibs and since then, in two games, they have scored 13 goals, yes, THIRTEEN!
So, one of the matches was against second-bottom Kilmarnock (who had 10 men for 85+ minutes) and the other was against bottom of the Championship Queen’s Park but you can only play what’s in front of you.
What is even more impressive is that 12 of those 13 goals have actually come in the last 135 minutes of football because Rangers were only 1-0 against Kilmarnock at half-time and were booed off of the pitch. Whether you agree with that or not, you can see where fans were coming from, especially after the performance against Hibs on the Sunday.
Rangers came out a different team in the second half on Wednesday and put pressure on Kilmarnock instantly, they were more aggressive and actually looked like scoring when going forward. The second half introductions of the likes of Skov-Olsen, Tuur Rommens and Oliver Antman made a big difference in the intensity that was shown on the pitch.
In reality, it could have been seven or eight by the end of the game and Rangers should have kept a clean sheet but for a Jack Butland howler that gave Greg Kiltie a tap-in. That evening brought first goals for Antman and Skov-Olsen and the fans went home happy after witnessing a flowing, attacking display in the last 45 minutes.
Then came Sunday against Queen’s Park, a game that looked easy on paper but that was also something fans thought last season in that historic and calamitous 1-0 defeat which spelled the beginning of the end for Philippe Clement’s time at Rangers.
There must have been nerves in some of the players that were involved in that last season but it was a fresh Rangers team which included all four January signings from the start.
The reality is, Queen’s Park weren’t given a chance to settle, it was the type of performance that all fans want when playing weaker opposition, aggressive and attacking. It only took eight minutes for the first goal to come when Ryan Naderi bagged his first for the club as he was left free at the backpost from a corner.
Queen’s Park were then denied an equaliser after sloppy play from Djiga led to a counter but Aidan Connolly was well offside in the end. Just two minutes later, Rangers made it 2-0 after James Tavernier converted from a Diomande cross which bounced in the box before he smashed it in. Shortly after, Tavernier whipped a corner in which Ferrie punched into his own net but the Rangers captain was credited with the goal, he then completed his first half hat-trick from the penalty spot just ten minutes later.
It was five just before half-time as another Tavernier delivery was deflected into the net, this time off of ex-Rangers youngster Matthew Shiels. Goals from Naderi (49), Miovski (80) and Chukwuani (90) capped off an incredibly dominant performance at Ibrox, the likes of which fans haven’t seen in a LONG time.
First goals for Naderi and Chukwuani were encouraging, meaning that in the last two games, four players scored their first goals for the club.
It’s a huge week for Danny Rohl, though as Rangers head to Fir Park on Wednesday before a massive game against Hearts at Ibrox on Sunday.
Two wins could potentially take Rangers top, do you think they can do it?
Here are the latest odds from the betting sites on the Scottish Premiership outright market.
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