The Michael Beale period has now earned three Rangers wins out of three after a reasonably uninspiring 1-0 win over Ross County.
The Govan aspect have been worthy winners and whereas there was no extra coronary heart assault stuff after the stress of Pittodrie on Tuesday night time, this was devoid of just about any leisure bar John Lundstram's purpose. County's sport plan was clearly to frustrate Rangers and play on the break, which appeared like being reasonably profitable early on.
However their menace was quick lived and just about ended after they went 1-0 down. Rangers had possibilities late on to make issues much more comfy, however wasted them. Higher groups will punish them, and the punters will need a bit extra type to go together with the outcomes earlier than too lengthy. However factors are the precedence proper now with that Celtic conflict looming within the New 12 months and a 9 level hole to attempt to whittle down.
After a few half possibilities for Rangers, Jon McLaughlin needed to look full of life to forestall them falling behind on 20 minutes. A deep cross ti the again put up wasn't handled by Ben Davies, permitting George Harman to move in direction of purpose from shut vary. His downwards header was on the right track, however the Rangers keeper threw out a left-leg to make sure the sport remained goalless.
One other warning got here quickly after. Owura Edwards burst free down the proper and drove into the field. He aimed for the far nook, however dragged his effort throughout purpose and large from a good angle. Regardless of County arguably creating the higher alternatives, a Christmas cracker from Lundstram gave Rangers the lead their relative management of the sport deserved. He acquired possession round 20 yards out and took a contact earlier than firing a crisp left-foot strike in off the put up that Ross Laidlaw could not get close to.
Adam Devine was allowed to patrol the left hand aspect with out a lot in the best way of a problem through the first half. He bombed on and pulled again for Sakala after the break, however his effort was promote stopped by Laidlaw to disclaim the guests a second.
Ryan Kent lastly sparked into life after 72 minutes. He spun infield and made his approach in direction of the field earlier than teeing up Rabbi Matondo with a intelligent reverse go. However the Welsh winger produced one thing that was neither a shot or a cross and it drifted harmlessly large.
After sending a tame effort nicely large after he first got here on, Alfredo Morelos noticed issues open up for him late on. He was solely in a position to shoot straight at Ross Laidlaw nonetheless, together with his customary purpose up in Dingwall eluding him. A rebound from a Rabbi Matondo shot fell for him, however he would have been doing nicely to react rapidly sufficient to show it house in stoppage time.
Matondo was responsible of a fair greater miss as the sport ticked in direction of its conclusion. He raced by way of with no-one close to him, a seemingly easy activity forward of him to seal the factors. He tried to spherical Laidlaw although, and the County keeper produced a last-ditch problem any of his defenders would have been happy with, that means Matondo copped a good bit of stick from the travelling help.
Morelos benched
Michael Beale hinted that the Colombian may not begin after admitting he'd been taking part in by way of the ache barrier not too long ago. With Antonio Colak and kemar Roofe not but match, the Gers began with out a recognised striker. Wideman Style Sakala led the road and had a few first rate efforts that have been nicely stopped by Laidlaw.
Morelos entered the fray within the second half however in fact, had even much less affect than the person he changed. With Colak and Roofe due again towards Motherwell, El Bufalo would possibly discover himself using the pine once more earlier than too lengthy. Regardless of netting the winner towards Hibs, his performances have not impressed upon his supervisor that he needs to be the person with the jersey up entrance.
Case for the defence
A primary clear sheet for Beale will probably be welcome. After seeing the pendulum swing each methods towards Hibs and Aberdeen, a quieter night time on the workplace earlier than Christmas will not have proved an excessive amount of of a hardship for the Rangers supervisor.
He referenced earlier than the sport that this was the primary time he was in a position to title two pure centre backs in his beginning XI. Each Connor Goldson and Ben Davies will want time to totally regain their match sharpness, however there was typically a extra stable look about Rangers with these two within the coronary heart of the backline. Davies was caught out on a few events early on, however Rangers by no means actually appeared threatened the longer the sport went on.
Bealeball
It is early days, however precisely how Rangers wish to play stays unclear. The tip-to-end chaos we have seen within the earlier two video games was absent. Rangers have been extra stable, however Ross County much less bold than Hibs or Aberdeen.
This had the sensation of one in all Gio van Bronckhorst's later shows. In equity, this was the second lengthy away journey in 4 days beneath a brand new boss, so comprehensible. However the video games are coming thick and quick earlier than the subsequent break, and it could be that Beale is all in regards to the factors till then, when he can herald new gamers and correctly implement a extra apparent type change.
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