By Alan Weir
It’s a fact that the vast majority of us watch Rangers games away from Ibrox, and what we lose in terms of camaraderie, atmosphere and freezing knackers is made up with the comfort and, on occasions, a decent selection of beer and nibbles provided by partners (very occasionally in this case) or kids (better bet). So, a “view from the armchair” is provided here.
To the match…
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The first twenty minutes were a relatively subdued mixture of tentativeness from both sides and misplaced passes. A fourth minute sitter from De Jong blasted over the bar – possibly from an offside position – was the only notable onfield action. The off-field pronunciation battle between Rory Hamilton and Super Ally involved a Tillman/Teelman exchange swiftly followed by the Colak/”Cholak” two-step. Neither battle was ever quite resolved but they are sure to recommence next week. Ally’s penchant for “…it really was” at the end of most sentences was also an interesting absence; perhaps someone has had a word?
It was Rangers that began to assert just before the half hour mark and you felt in an empty studio somewhere Tom Miller was talking about “shifting through the gears”. However, no clear-cut chances materialised, exacerbated by a possible penalty box handball being denied, one that you felt would have gone our way last year. With Rangers on top, the Achilles heel returned: corners. There is an inevitability now that if we don’t head the first ball clear, panic ensues and the keeper picks the ball out of the net…and so it was here. On thirty-seven minutes a simple cross pinballs off Lundstram, Goldson and Tavernier before Sangare swings at it from six yards out: 1-0 Eindhoven.
If the PSV goal was one of chaos, Rangers’ reply three minutes later was a thing of precision and beauty. The speed and accuracy of the passes from Davis and then Tavernier down the right were matched by Colak’s finish. Four goals in four games and hopefully putting to bed the lazy comparisons with Cedric Itten. Colak comes alive in the box and one touch finishes were never a feature of big Cedric’s game. Colak’s settling in creates an interesting dilemma when Morelos gets back to full fitness.
A 1-1 half-time score seemed fair with Rangers playing well as a team, but the individual threat of Gakpo on the Eindhoven left providing a constant danger. Also, the joy of seeing two teams trying to play football rather than the eleven-men-behind-the-ball garbage served up by most SPL managers underlined how much we are being short-changed on a week to week basis.
Another benefit for us TV viewers is the “quality” of half-time analysis you miss when you’re sat next to your mate with burger, Mars bar and refreshment in hand. As pundits, McInnes and Kenny Miller are far from the worst, but the modern day norm of ‘vanilla’ questions followed by equally dull observations – “happy” and “disappointed with that” being as insightful as it tends to get – continues to irritate. We know people who could offer far more analytical, tactical comments…but if you’re not an ex-pro forget it. Not being John Hartson isn’t enough.
The second half started similarly to the first in that both teams wanted to feel each other out, more scared of losing a goal than scoring one. No question though that PSV were the stronger in the opening exchanges due to a combination of pressing and atrocious passing from the back by Rangers. The often seen Borna Meltdown also seemed to be re-emerging where passes went astray and attackers were lost. Surely Ridvan’s turn cannot be far away? The closest Eindhoven came was some sharp play by Saibari in the fifty-fourth minute: one touch to take it inside the defender and then the second a shot just wide from the edge of the box.
Rangers’ performance seemed to be symbolised by the individual performance of Malik Tillman. The growing(?) feeling that he has everything except for stamina is beginning to solidify and his individual run on sixty-seven minutes – great dribble, weak shot – was illustrative of a young player running out of puff. With substitute’s poised to come on, Rangers got the gift that comes from positive thinking and having a shot at goal. With a free kick just outside Cessnock Station, Lawrence’s decision to shoot seemed speculative at best; goalkeeper Benitez, however, is clearly a man who has trouble with that bar of soap in the shower: 2-1 Rangers and pretty much against the run of play. Lawrence’s forward-thinking start to the season continues and he looks likely to be a regular starter in the games that matter.
A promising sign for Rangers in the second half is the nonsense PSV felt they had to get up to: Ramalho Silva’s desperate attempt on seventy-three minutes to get Colak sent off for a tap on the back and de Jong’s fouling to stop Goldson advancing perhaps indicate a team not entirely comfortable when put under pressure. However, Rangers chucked away their useful one goal advantage with an equaliser from (all together now) another corner. This time our defence didn’t even bother to get themselves into chaos mode, choosing to allow Obispo a free header on seventy-eight minutes. Answers on a postcard to Ibrox if you think you can solve this glaring problem…
The final twelve minutes? Well, literally nothing written down in my imaginary note-pad. The hoped-for surge for a Rangers winner never materialised; the nervous holding on for a draw was likewise missing. Both sides seemed to decide to leave it till next Wednesday to make any decisive move. We never conceded another corner…
Tonight means we go to Eindhoven with a definite chance of progress, but we will need far more from the likes of Kent (largely anonymous) and perhaps a fit-again Morelos to shake-up the PSV back lot. At least we saw tonight that the Dutch are beatable, particularly if we come up with some basic defending at corners. We can still dream!