Rangers Four’s all round / Managers reaction

Viaplay Cup Quarter Final

Rangers vs Livingston

September 27th 2000hrs

RANGERS: Butland, Tavernier, Goldson, Davies, Ridvan, Lundstram, Cifuentes, Jack, Lammers, Sima, Roofe. 

Subs: McCrorie, Souttar, Dessers, Sterling, Wright, Balogun, Barisic, Rice, McKinnon.

Four changes for Rangers, going out are Scott Wright, Borna Barisic, Cyriel Dessers, Rabbi Matondo. Ridvan Yilmaz, Ryan Jack, Abdallah Sima and Kemar Roofe are in from the start.

It has to be better this evening, Sunday’s victory has not been well received at the ground or in the aftermath and whilst winning is fantastic, the lack of performance and style is now a major issue.

It’s a big night for Rangers but we need more than just a victory, we have to start seeing something from this team and soon.

First half action –

3 mins – Tavernier corner is flicked over by Ben Davies.

8 mins – SAVE! Great quick football by Rangers and Tavernier’s shot is tipped over on the bounce from inside the box.

10 mins – GOOOAAAALLLL! Sima down the left and seems to challenge and defender falls, he carries on and bends it straight in brilliantly! It’s a contentious decision. 1-0 Rangers!

30 mins – Caution Brandon 📒

36 mins – Stephen Kelly bends an effort just wide.

38 mins – Kemar Roofe heads a half chance wide.

Half Time – Rangers 1 Livingston 0

Summary – Rangers started well, decent tempo and got the goal around 10 mins which was well finished by Sima. I thought it was a foul at the time and having saw the reply I still think we were lucky. Looks to me like contact, a push to be precise, they are normally given, but we’ll certainly take it.

That aside, after initial good period, we were in control but get bogged down and become very passive. The tempo is so slow and very little risk and reward, it very quickly becomes very flat.

We are waiting to be inspired, but it seems all a little bit pedestrian.

Second half action –

Half time change, OFF Kemar Roofe, ON Cyriel Dessers

59 mins – Dessers feeds Sima who has a shot which is parried out, he plays the rebound across face of goal with no takers.

60 mins – Lundstram fires a shot over.

62 mins – WIDE! De Lucas heads just wide from Livi corner.

This isn’t much better from Rangers. It’s all very uninspiring

63 mins – Howls from the crowd as Dessers runs into trouble when the through ball to Sima is there. Crowd are just fed up.

64 mins – Caution Sima 📒

66 mins – GOAAAALLL! What a cracker from Ridvan! Jack gives him it inside his own half and he runs straight at the heart of Livingston before finishing superbly! 2-0 Rangers

Perfect timing by Ridvan, that was a beauty!

72 mins – Injury to Ridvan, replaces by Barisic.

79 mins – CHANCE! Lovely turn by Sima and he plays in Tavernier, he squares for Lammers who slides and pokes it over. Unselfish by Tav but you want him to take that on.

83 mins – GOAAAALLLL! Wonderful ball down the line by Barisic and Sima is in, his cross/shot is deflected in. 3-0!

87 mins – OFF Lundstram, Sima, Davies ON Sterling, Souttar and Wright

90 mins – GOAAAALLLL! Ryan Jack makes it four with a great strike into the bottom corner. 4-0 Rangers

Full time – Rangers 4 Livingston 0

Attendance – 35420

Stadium MOTM – Ridvan Yilmaz

Summary –

Ended up very comfortable and a great result for the team. The story was very similar to previous games, start well then get bogged down. However a wonderful moment of direct attack from Ridvan settled Rangers nerves and then we visibly grow in confidence after our second.

Then confidence boosting goals follow in the closing stages to make it a great evening for Rangers. The goals were good, the first a great finish even if contentious. The second a brilliant individual direct run and then finish by Ridvan. The third and fourth again good moves and it’s perfectly times really, we needed it.

The only concern is the middle part where Rangers get passive and bogged down in moments. Sorting that the only issue from tonight but a good night for Rangers.

Now to carry that into the weekend with more sustained performance throughout.