Bt Alistair Aird
Old Firm defeats hurt. Metaphorically, it’s like being hit hard by a Mitre Mouldmaster. It stings and the impact leaves an impression that stays with you for several days afterwards. But losing on penalties last Sunday was different and has left scars that will only heal when the balance of power starts to tip back in Rangers’ favour.
A few weeks ago, a Hampden hammering was expected but defying almost everything that has been levelled at this squad of players, Rangers went toe-to-toe with Celtic. And they showed mental resilience that has been called into question on numerous occasions by coming back from behind twice. But those aren’t the reasons why Sunday’s loss was a wounding one. That is down to two lamentable decisions, and if either one of them had gone in Rangers’ favour, the League Cup would have been on show this afternoon as the club celebrated 125 years of Ibrox Stadium.
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The first came early in the second half. Leading 1-0, Rangers broke clear. It was 4-v-1 and correct pass execution would have seen any of the boys in blue with a clear run in on Kasper Schmeichel. Although there was plenty road still to run, a two-goal lead at that point would have given Rangers a solid foundation. But the final pass was poor, and Cameron Carter Vickers was able to intercept and snuff out the danger.
The second one had nothing to do with errant passing though. It was all down to the incompetency of the officials looking after VAR. In extra time, Vaclav Cerny was hauled to the ground by Liam Scales on the fringes of the penalty area. Match referee John Beaton gave a free-kick and in fairness, most watching at the time thought that was the correct call. But it soon transpired that while the original infringement had happened outside the box, contact had remained as Cerny tried to wriggle free. That contact was still there as Cerny made it into the penalty area. According to the rules of the game, it was a penalty kick. Sadly, the two dunces looking at the screens for VAR thought otherwise. It was a scandalous call. Given how clinically he dispatched his penalty kick in the shoot out, you would have expected James Tavernier to score and that would have sealed the deal as it was always going to be ‘next goal the winner’ in the additional half hour.
The dust is yet to settle – I’m not sure if it ever will – but the performance at Hampden coupled with the display against Spurs fours days earlier should imbue what has been a bedraggled and beleaguered group of players with confidence. The gap at the top is large but not insurmountable and with another Old Firm match looming on the horizon, there is no reason not to believe that redemption may yet still come in the form of the league title.
For that to happen, Rangers had to ensure that maximum points were collected in the three league matches contested ahead of the battle of the behemoths at Ibrox on 2 January. And that trio of fixtures started today with the visit of Dundee.
Ahead of the match, the club marked 125 years of playing at Ibrox Stadium. Having played matches at Fleshers Haugh, Kinning Park and ‘First’ Ibrox, Rangers players first trod on the turf at the current stadium on 30 December 1899. A few months after completing an ‘invincible’ season in the league – Rangers won each of their 18 league games – a chap called John Wilkie, playing at inside-right, scored a hat trick in an Inter-City League match against Hearts. Most of the key protagonists from the remarkable season were present – Matt Dickie, Nicol Smith, Jock Drummond, Bobby Neil, RC Hamilton, Alec Smith and John McPherson all played – while in goal for Hearts was Harry Rennie who later joined Rangers.
Since then, there have been myriad great matches played here that have given those who witnessed them memories that will last a lifetime. Those who turned up for this one hoped to add another to the list and in so doing continue to reel in Aberdeen and take a chunk out of Celtic’s 11-point advantage.
On paper, it looked like a routine win was on the cards as Dundee came into the game on an indifferent run of form. Defeat to bottom club Hearts last weekend came on the back of a 4-1 win over Motherwell, a 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock and a 4-1 win over Hibernian.
When the teamsheets were handed out an hour or so before kick off, it looked like Clement had made a couple of changes to the XI that had started at Hampden. Dujon Sterling came in for Leon Balogun, while in the forward area, Danilo took over from Nedim Bajrami. The latter change could perhaps be considered harsh as the Albanian had arguably had his best game in a Rangers jersey against Celtic. But what it did do was illustrate that Clement now has plenty of attacking options at his disposal which can only be a good thing over what will be a frantic festive period.
However, around 10 minutes from the start, there was a change in goal. Jack Butland, an ever-present this season, was withdrawn which meant a first-ever league appearance for Rangers for Liam Kelly.
There was a break from tradition after the teams emerged too. Rather than attack the Broomloan Road end in the first half, Rangers would instead beat a path towards the Copland Road. It was slightly discomforting for that to happen on an occasion such as this as Dundee captain Trevor Carson, looking not so pretty in pink, won the coin toss and chose the end he wanted to defend. It was now up to the Rangers players would make him pay for such a heinous crime.
Rangers set up in the usual 4-2-3-1 ‘structure’. Ianis Hagi was once again stationed wide on the left, with Danilo assuming the number 10 role. Given that Hagi is more naturally suited to the number 10 role, it was perhaps a surprise to see him out wide again just like it had been at Hampden. That said, as much as Clement has more depth up front now, he still lacks left-sided options. And that is what the Belgian has cited as the reason when questioned about using Bajrami out there this season, so it looked like that was his thinking again.
The game started scrappily. Rangers had plenty of possession in the opening 15 minutes – 86% to be precise – and had made 152 passes compared to 22 by Dundee. But the only shot on goal had come from Cerny and that was blocked. In fairness, the blustery conditions weren’t exactly conducive for rip-roaring, ‘handbrake off’ football.
After 20 minutes, the deadlock was almost broken. Hagi set his sights from 25 yards and his right foot shot dipped towards goal before skimming off the top of the crossbar. It was, however, a rare bright spot in an opening spell in which Rangers lacked any tempo or pace in their place. Too often the final pass lacked accuracy as well.
There was a little burst of brilliance a few minutes later. Hagi prompted and probed, and his pass was dummied by Cerny. Danilo tried to release Tavernier, but the captain swiped at fresh air when well placed. In his defence, Nico Raskin arrived on the scene as the captain looked to pull the trigger and his presence certainly seemed to be off putting.
Tavernier almost made amends after 28 minutes. Jefte, celebrating his twenty-first birthday, was fouled on the edge of the area and Tavernier stepped up and curled a beautifully executed free kick over the wall and out of the reach of Carson. Alas, it was a fraction of an inch too high, the ball thudding off the underside of the bar.
At this point, you felt it was only a matter of time before Rangers made the breakthrough. A couple of corners were forced and after the ball broke to him after the second one, Cerny bobbed and weaved his way into a shooting position only to be denied by an alert save from Carson.
Scanning the stats at this point illustrated the direction of traffic. Rangers boasted 83% possession, had made 289 passes compared to Dundee’s 69 and registered nine shots at goal. Touches in the opposition penalty area stood at 19 to one in favour of the home side. And Rangers had also made 48 ‘final third entries’ versus just 10 by Dundee. But as impressive as that looked, goals are needed to win football matches and as the first half trickled towards a conclusion, Rangers didn’t have one.
Some sloppiness started to creep in. Danilo sclaffed a shot well wide of target after an enterprising run from Hamza Igamane and passing became hurried and wayward. In first half stoppage time, Hagi volleyed a shot against Igamane and Cerny was the over elaborate as he tried to make his way to the bye-line.
The first half could be summed up by saying that Rangers had huffed and puffed but not been able to muster up enough to blow the Dundee house down. They needed some finesse to finish off some of the promising build up play and the fans, who were to use an old Scottish word ‘foonert’, hoped their heroes would bring some fire out with them after the interval to give them some warmth and festive cheer. And they got that barely a minute after the restart.
A long ball was played out of defence towards the halfway line. Igamane fed it to Danilo who touched it wide for Cerny. He raced clear, rounded Carson and rolled the ball into the net. He did look suspiciously offside, but even the much-maligned VAR ruled that Cerny had timed his run to perfection.
Rangers now looked for a killer second goal. Igamane’s clever dink into the six-yard box just eluded a stretching Tavernier and the captain then rose to meet another delivery from the Moroccan but failed to direct his header on target.
After 57 minutes, Hagi had the ball in the net. He was played in on goal by a delightful slide-rule pass from Robin Propper, but unlike Cerny, Hagi hadn’t timed his run. He was flagged offside with VAR backing the decision of the assistant referee. He was offside moments later too when he cut inside and unleashed a shot that was parried by Carson.
Rangers made the first change of the afternoon just after the hour mark. Bajrami came on for Danilo who had had a decent game. Aside from the assist for the Cerny goal, the Brazilian had offered a good outlet although he may be better served playing at centre forward rather than in the deeper-lying number 10 position.
Simon Murray, often the scourge of Rangers in the past, came off the bench for Dundee and his first involvement saw him sent spinning into the air by Propper. The Dutchman was promptly booked and got off lightly when Dundee failed to take advantage of the free kick.
At the other end, Igamane had a shot hacked off the line, but this game was now starting to shape up as one in which motions were being gone through. Dundee didn’t look like equalising, but Rangers didn’t look like adding to their lead either.
Bajrami forced a corner with 18 minutes to go, but the wait for a goal from a set piece continued as Igamane headed Tavernier’s delivery wide of Carson’s left-hand post.
Shortly afterwards, Cerny was withdrawn, and Ross McCausland was pitched into the action. And his first involvement almost created a goal. His pass forward started a move that saw Raskin slide a delicious ball across the box to Igamane. Stationed inside the six-yard box, the young Moroccan should have scored, but his shot scudded off the underside of the crossbar.
Ten minutes later, Igamane was replaced by Cyriel Dessers while Ridvan Yilmaz came on for Hagi, but their introduction didn’t reignite the flame in this one. That had burnt out a while ago. Yet Rangers should have added to the single goal they had on the board. McCausland blazed a late shot high over the bar, and Dessers should also have done better than thump a left foot shot against the top of the bar.
It was far from pretty and more scrappy than scintillating. But the win coupled with Aberdeen’s defeat against Hibernian means that Rangers go into Christmas in second place on the league ladder. Depending on the result at Tannadice tomorrow, those of a Rangers persuasion may also tuck into their turkey having gobbled up some of Celtic’s double figures lead too.
Games like this at this time of the year in squalid conditions are about one thing and one thing only: three points. And when we reflect on this game in the future – albeit fleetingly and certainly not in the same breath as the other majestic matches that this iconic stadium has witnessed in the last 125 years – that’s exactly how we will recall it.