Match of the DayNew-look strikeforce clips
Rangers 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd
It’s unlikely any one player will be as prolific as the recently-departed Boyd. However, it’s obvious the Light Blues have been working hard on how to score in other ways. Against an impressive, newly- promoted Newcastle, Rangers started with a 4-3-2-1 formation that became 4-5-1 when they were forced back but also altered to 4-3-3 when they attacked. Key to this system operating fluently is Steven Naismith and Steven Whittaker working the flanks and both did this to telling affect, with Naismith scoring and Whittaker causing havoc down the left. Whittaker was eventually moved to right-back to give teenager Gregg Wylde some experience. Flanks Rangers also enticed Kirk Broadfoot forward at every opportunity. So clearly they intend to use the full width of the park to try and compensate for the loss of Boyd’s penalty-box poaching. However, the most telling switch for Rangers was moving Steven Davis to central midfield where he ran the show. Davis occasionally looked frustrated playing wide-right last season. Obviously he is far happier playing one in and being involved in the game all the time. His defence-splitting pass for what turned out to be the winning goal was sheer class. Newcastle pulled a goal back through former Ibrox favourite Peter Lovenkrands. And only a couple of saves from Allan McGregor prevented the visitors from equalising. After defeating Blackburn Rovers in Australia, that is now two English Premier League scalps the Scottish champions have to their credit before the season starts. Glancing header Rangers took the lead midway through the first half when Whittaker whipped in a cross from the left touchline. Kenny Miller judged his run to perfection to lose his marker Fabricio Coloccini and beat ’keeper Steve Harper low to his right with a glancing header. Midway through the second half Davis beat Newcastle’s offside trap with a perfectly-weighted pass. Naismith pounced on it before drilling the ball low past Harper. Then Lovenkrands appeared to a rapturous welcome from both sets of fans. A minute later, though, it was only the 4000 travelling supporters who rose to him when he scored with his first touch of the ball. Although McGregor did well to keep out Kevin Nolan’s shot he couldn’t hold the ball and Lovenkrands couldn’t miss from two yards. This goal gave Newcastle encouragement and McGregor had to act smartly to keep out Wayne Routledge and Lovenkrands again. Need to be sharper Newcastle showed enough to suggest they should stay clear of relegation trouble on their return to the Premier League. However, they will have to be sharper in front of goal, especially away from home when chances will be few and far between. Rangers certainly impressed with their back four looking solid, the midfield trio keeping their shape, the wide pair constantly causing problems and Miller thriving as usual on his own. The big problem for Rangers will be in the back-up department. Apart from the experienced Andrius Velicka, the erratic Kyle Lafferty and experienced ’keeper Neil Alexander their bench was filled with kids. In a pre-season friendly featuring substitutes galore this game was unusually exciting with plenty of full-blooded tackling to keep the big crowd happy.
|
© All copyright D.C. Thomson & Co. Ltd., 2010 |
By
Ron Scott at Ibrox
For
our full coverage, including all the stats and analysis of all the
big games, buy a copy of the
August 8 edition of The Sunday Post.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
