What a difference a few days make

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What a difference a couple of weeks make. Even before the clouds began circling over Ibrox after the behaviour of a couple of the club�s biggest stars on international duty, there was a general malaise and negativity down Govan way.

 

Having let a lead in the SPL slip, with Celtic stretching their advantage at the top to 3 points overturning a 10 goal deficit in the goal difference and taking the league title out of our hands, even accounting for the remaining Old Firm match at Ibrox. This was followed up with a lacklustre defeat in the CIS cup. Finally all the excitement and hype of last season�s enthralling chase for four trophies had ebbed away. Questions are continually asked of Smith�s tactics and of team formations and line ups. Summer signings are under increasing scrutiny.

 

So the last thing we needed was the suspension of the club captain and the number 1. A squad decimated by injuries to Thomson, Lafferty, Miller and Papac amongst others. Without so many key performers how could we possibly halt the relentless march of Strachan�s side to another title?

 

Therein lies the problem with objectively discussing football, especially when it surrounds Scotland�s most successful team. Everything is either rosy, or we facing the apocalypse. There is no in between. When in reality the truth lies somewhere in the middle. There are shades of grey.

 

Whilst all the newspapers column inches were taken up with ex-pros and pundits lining up to take a pop at Ferguson and McGregor, new club captain Davie Weir and his team mates have gone about their business in quiet if unspectacular fashion.

 

Weir�s first opportunity to lead his side out as fully fledge captain, as opposed to the stand in role he has ably filled in the past, resulted in a 1-0 victory. A satisfactory outcome at the end of a difficult week for Rangers Football club. At this stage of the season, every game is about earning the 3 points and not worrying about the manner in which they are achieved. The win at the Falkirk Stadium was the beginning of a welcome return to goal-scoring form of Kris Boyd. After not scoring for 5 games, the prolific hitman has found the back of the net 4 times in the last 3 games and is looking to continue his scoring form in the season run in as we chase league and cup success.

 

Lee McCulloch filled in for Ferguson in his absence against the SPL�s basement club. However injury to the former-Wigan midfielder saw Edu promoted to the role of Pedro Mendes� engine room partner. The young American, having had longer to settle in a new country had looked more composed and has been more involved than in his earlier cameo�s this season.

 

Smith�s injury and suspension ravaged side followed up that victory with a maximum 3 points against another struggling side in St Mirren. The Paisley outfit looked like they were in for a long afternoon when Boyd and then Beasley fired Rangers into an early 2-0 deficit. Much like other recent fixtures, such as the dropped points against Hearts, we failed to kill off McPherson�s side and an Andy Dorman second half strike made for a nervy finish. In truth however St Mirren rarely threatened and another deserved victory was ensured. Even in spite of the opposition, 2 back to back away victories will bread confidence given our away record in recent years.

 

Edu followed up his late appearance against Falkirk with his first goal for the club and a strong performance that led to him being given some spectators motm award. The appalling anti-football tactics of St Mirren, with some tackles more recognised in the Octagon at a UFC event, increased Rangers mounting injury problems with both Papac and Beasley first half casualties. As alluded to at the start of this piece though, along with the imminent return of Lafferty, Papac and Beasley are expected to return in the coming weeks.

 

Andrius Velicka made a second late appearance as a sub as we ran the clock down. Even the Lithuanian himself will no doubt have been surprised to return to the starting line up for the first time this year as we welcomed Mark McGhee�s Cel.... sorry Motherwell to Ibrox. With just 2 minutes on the clock, the big Lithuanian had repaid his manager�s faith with the opening goal and is being picked by some as a surprise starter in the upcoming Old Firm.

 

Not to be undone by his strike partner, Boyd scored for the third match in succession with another goal of the season contender before rounding off the victory with a penalty after Brian McLean felled Mendes in the box.

 

After the international fall out, Smith will have been incredibly pleased to have picked up maximum points. The first time his side have won 3 games in a row since September and he will be looking to extend that run when we travel to Leith on Sunday.

 

Smith will also be pleased in the manner in which Edu has come into the midfield and offered a balance that arguably was missing when Mendes and Ferguson, two players who are excellent going forward but less disciplined defensively, play together.

 

Neil Alexander has stepped in to fill McGregor�s gloves to great effect and it demonstrates the defensive strength of Walter Smith�s squad that such a massive change at a critical stage of the season has barely been worthy of discussion since Alexander first pulled on the gloves against Falkirk.

 

The return of Stevie Smith to offer competition to Papac, who is hoping to be fit for this weekend�s match, is another welcome boost. Smith played in left midfield against Motherwell as Walter looked to ease him back into fold and with the inability of any player to make that position his own, the committed display against our Lanarkshire neighbours should be enough to allow Steven to keep his place this weekend.

 

As had been mentioned earlier on, Boyd�s return to goal-scoring form has come at a vital time with Lafferty and Miller struggling for fitness and Novo and Naismith struggling for form. The Ayrshire hitman is looking to break the 30 goal mark and if he can get near to the 39 he scored the year Eck bought him from Killie there is every possibility that will be enough to secure league flag number 52. The emergence of Velicka from the wilderness could also be important with striking options getting thinner by the week.

 

Added to all of this, the relentless pursuit of victories and 3 points, the return to form of key players and the re-emergence of some of the squad�s forgotten men is the boost of the announcement of the final Old Firm fixture, confirmed for the second post-split fixture on May 9th.

 

This news means that Bougherra�s one match suspension, that rules him out of the opening post split tie will be served when Celtic travel to Govan. The Algerian stopper was unavailable as McDonald took advantage of Kirk Broadfoot�s lack of games in his favoured centre-back role and Celtic ran out 1-0 winners. He was also unable to prevent the 2-0 loss last month.

 

The classy defender has to be the leading candidate for both Rangers and the SPL�s POTY. I, as no doubt most other fans, will be relieved that the Bougherra should be marshalling our back line in the final Old Firm encounter of the year.

 

There are a number of issues still to be addressed at Ibrox and Murray Park, both on the field and in the boardroom. However, recent weeks have shown we have strength in depth of quality within the squad and a strength of character capable of winning this League and the Scottish Cup. If we win the two games prior to the Old Firm, beginning with Hibs this weekend, will take us into the Old Firm knowing a victory at Ibrox will put us in the driving seat for the Championship with all the momentum on our side of the city.

 

The opportunity is there. It is up to Walter Smith, Davie Weir and co. to grasp it with both hands.

[ian1964 10,720]

I still think there will be more twists and turns yet, but as you said SA, win against the HIVS and it certainly puts us in a position to turn the screw, is this Rangers team up to it ?,time will tell, but if we do beat Hibs thenI'm sure our fans will be @ their best to help the team hump the MOPES