Rangers Under-19s suffered their second loss of the season last night, losing 3-2 to League Two side Stirling Albion in the KDM Evolution Trophy. Similar to the defeat against Bonnyrigg, Rangers failed to produce many clear-cut chances, while Stirling Albion's direct approach caused problems in the defensive third.
Stirling opened the scoring after 15 minutes when Russell McLean took advantage of a defensive mistake from Rangers. Looking to play out from the back, Corey Ngwenya saw his pass intercepted in Rangers' defensive third. Stirling quickly worked the ball out to the right wing, where McLean finished the resulting cross neatly.
Rangers responded quickly and, 10 minutes later, Aiden McCallion equalised from the penalty spot. It was a simple but effective move down the left-hand side, with Arran Kerr playing a ball in behind the Stirling full-back for Lewis Stewart to chase. Stewart reached the byline and picked out Callum Burnside. His shot was saved and rebounded to Josh Gentles, who was brought down before he could get an effort away. McCallion, as always, converted.
Stirling restored their lead just before half-time. Jack Wyllie lunged into a challenge, conceding a free-kick 20 yards from goal. Josh Mullin, who was at Raith Rovers last season, curled the ball beyond Rydnn McGuire to give Stirling the lead heading into the break.
Stewart almost levelled with 10 minutes of the half remaining after embarking on a mazy run from the halfway line. Beating several Stirling defenders, his effort from outside the box drifted agonisingly wide.
Just minutes later, that missed chance came back to haunt Rangers as Stirling struck on the counterattack through Robin Raine. Rangers were handed a lifeline when Zeb Lawson was brought down in the box after some excellent skill. McCallion converted for a second time, but it was not enough to earn Rangers a point.
RANGERS: McGuire, Z. Hutton, Ngwenya, Wyllie, Kerr, McCallion, Rankin (Crilly, 59), Burnside (Smith, 72), Glasgow (Lawson, 59), Stewart (Cameron, 87), Gentles
Possession without penetration
Last night's game against Stirling followed a very similar pattern to the Bonnyrigg Rose match a couple of weeks ago, with Rangers dominating possession but struggling to create clear opportunities. When chances did arrive, they often came through the brilliance of Lewis Stewart.
Rangers found success in the opening 10 minutes by switching play from side to side. Kerr and Stewart frequently found themselves in space on the left whenever the ball was worked across from the right, where Zander Hutton and Kyle Glasgow operated. Stirling overloaded the side of the pitch where possession was located, effectively forcing Rangers wide rather than allowing them to play through the middle.
The first notable chance created through the centre fell to Gentles. The Welshman was played over the top by McCallion with a delightful dink over the defence. Gentles' first effort was blocked before he blazed the rebound over the bar.
Stirling responded well. They were content to concede controlled possession and sit deep in their own half. Rangers managed to switch play regularly, but Stirling defended the wide areas effectively, often placing two players on both Stewart and Glasgow.
Although Rangers were able to get the ball into the feet of their wide players, there was often a lack of runners ahead of them or space to exploit. On the few occasions those runs did materialise, Stewart was at the heart of them. His run in behind led to the penalty, while his surge from the halfway line created another chance that narrowly missed the target.
So how does Malky Thomson resolve this issue? Much like the first team, the Under-19s struggled to progress the ball quickly enough. Their slow build-up allowed Stirling to regain shape and structure, making them extremely difficult to break down.
Alongside that slow tempo, when Rangers worked the ball wide there were often very few options inside the box for crosses. Gentles was frequently the lone attacking target, while too many teammates wanted the ball to feet rather than attacking the delivery.
Rangers play into Stirling's hands
Rangers conceded three highly preventable goals. Before the opener, Rangers had gone direct on several occasions, looking to hold the ball up and compete for second balls. That proved difficult, with Glasgow and Stewart struggling to deal with the high, looping deliveries directed towards them.
McGuire opted to go long because of Stirling's aggressive press from Rangers' goal-kicks, with two attackers positioned high up the pitch and ready to engage immediately.
The first goal Rangers conceded was a particularly frustrating one. Corey Ngwenya, 16, started alongside the more experienced Jack Wyllie, who has previous experience dealing with the physical style Stirling employed following a successful loan spell at Forfar.
Ngwenya surrendered possession 10 yards outside the Rangers penalty area. Kerr, positioned higher up the pitch than his opposing winger, was caught out when the pass into midfield was intercepted. The Stirling winger was then released into the open space before delivering into the box for the striker to finish past McGuire.
The second goal was an excellent finish from 20 yards, but the build-up will frustrate Rangers. The move began from a set-piece, and McCallion had the opportunity to clear the danger completely. Instead, his clearance found a Stirling player, who was able to play a pass towards the edge of the area. Wyllie then flew into a challenge that did not need to be made, resulting in the free-kick from which Stirling scored.
The third goal was also of Rangers' own making, with the young side losing possession in the defensive third. They initially won the ball following a Stirling goal-kick but immediately played themselves into trouble as McCallion was crowded out after receiving possession. Stirling moved the ball forward quickly, with several runners flooding into the penalty area. Rangers failed to deal with the danger and were once again the architects of their own downfall.
Read more:
- The approach Rangers Under-19s came unstuck against again and what must change
- Dujon Sterling reveals one key change that has stopped Rangers injury issues
Needless to say, Stirling could have scored more were it not for some poor finishing. Rangers made it too easy for the visitors to counterattack and win second balls. When in possession, the hosts committed large numbers forward, crowding the area around the Stirling box and making it difficult to create space. When possession was lost, Stirling exploited the gaps left behind, creating chances through runs in behind and crosses into the area, two things Rangers failed to do themselves consistently.
With three games remaining in the competition against Clyde, Queen of the South and Peterhead, Thomson will have to find both tactical and mental improvements if his side are to progress to the knockout stages.
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