Match Thread [FT] Rangers 2 (Dessers 61; McCausland 90+2) - 0 St Johnstone

[JohnMc 2,801]

As we said on the podcast on Friday, this had potential banana skin written all over it. As it was we controlled the match, should have scored more than we did, created a decent number of chances and were only occasionally troubled by a St Johnstone side who are significantly better than last season and in good form. On top of that we were able to get some minutes into the legs of a few players who haven't played much recently. The downside is another couple of injuries, the extent of which is still unknown. We've had worse afternoons at Hampden in recent times. 

 

A regular criticism recently has been the lack of a style of play, I don't think you can make that claim yesterday. It was clear what we were trying to do and for the most part it worked. Jefte and Matondo linked up well, Tav and Cerny had moments but were less effective. Diomande supported Danilo and then Dessers and was as advanced as I recall seeing him. Danilo linked up well, his hold up play and lay offs are better than Dessers, but I'm still unsure if he's as good a finisher, he didn't look it yesterday. In fairness he'll need a month or so of regular games before we'll know just what Danilo offers, but at least having the option again was pleasing. 

 

Sterling played in bursts, then seemed to disappear. I suppose a player whose game is based around power will need a few matches to get back to match sharpness. 

 

Tav still looks a yard slow, I'm not sure if that's a match sharpness thing or simply his body ageing. He was again caught out more than once yesterday. Tav never hides, he's rarely injured and provides experience in a team still finding it's feet. I do wonder if there was another option at right back if he'd be playing as much as he is though. 

 

Baron, Davies, Dessers and McCausland all played well when they came on. Baron is already a first choice in midfield and looks to have been an excellent signing. Dessers scored, again. Whatever his failings, and he demonstrated some of them yesterday, he also never hides, gets into good positions and took his chance well, showing composure where previously other players hadn't when presented with chances. We need other players to contribute more goals, relying on Dessers solely to score is unfair and unrealistic, other players need to contribute, and that's still lacking from this squad. 

 

Overall more positives than negatives. We're a work in progress, but yesterday did at least feel like progress. We've got a week before we play again, Ross County at home, and then another week before the Tims away. I don't think we're as bad as some are making out, but we're still quite a distance from being as good as we'll need to be. 

[BlackSocksRedTops 3,806]

Dundee at home. Quarter Final. 

[Franc Ergs 1,692]

Just now, BlackSocksRedTops said:

Dundee at home. Quarter Final. 

No, Dundee at Hampden  .😉

[BlackSocksRedTops 3,806]

9 minutes ago, Franc Ergs said:

No, Dundee at Hampden  .😉

Doh!

[Scott7 6,149]

Dundee will fancy their chances. Rightly so.

[yuddie 1,693]

46 minutes ago, Scott7 said:

Dundee will fancy their chances. Rightly so.

You know, I don't think we're as bad as people make out.

 

Not 3rd place bad anyway - that's 70 point territory.

 

We're not 90+ either.

 

Probably between 80-85.

 

But if we get a good wind behind us...

[RANGERRAB 3,731]

2 hours ago, yuddie said:

You know, I don't think we're as bad as people make out.

 

Not 3rd place bad anyway - that's 70 point territory.

 

We're not 90+ either.

 

Probably between 80-85.

 

But if we get a good wind behind us...

We do lack quality in 2 or 3 areas but I do agree we’re not as bad as the usual suspects in the mhedia are making out