Last Tuesday's loss to Stirling Albion in the KDM Evolution Trophy was the Under-19s' second straight defeat in the competition. Rangers had plenty of possession throughout but struggled to create real chances; when they did, it was almost always through the pace and directness of Lewis Stewart on the left wing.
Rangers scored two penalties, with the first coming from a chance created by Stewart. Arran Kerr found his run in behind; Stewart drove inside the Stirling box, and his cutback found Callum Burnside on the edge of the box, but his shot was saved and landed at Josh Gentles, who was subsequently fouled. Stewart continuously carried the ball forward, taking on his defender at speed. If Rangers were to score from open play, it would have been from him. He gave his thoughts on Tuesday’s game.
“I thought we played quite well at the start of the game”, he said, speaking exclusively to the Rangers Review. “Then obviously they took the lead quite early, and then I think from then it was just an uphill battle. Obviously, we won the penalty, and then we went on top. Then, at the end of the first half, there was a wee five-to-ten minute spell when they were on top, but I think we did well to hold on.
“Unfortunately, in the second half I thought we played really well; we took control of the game, but obviously we didn't challenge their goalie enough, and when we did it the shots were off target, and it was straight at them, and then they go up the park and score when we were up there trying to go for a goal.
“I think that game there for me, I could have taken the full back down the line more, flashed balls across the box, and tried to try and link up with Josh [Gentles]. I was just kind of trying to cut in and shoot.
“If we can try and implement Josh in a game like this, I think he's got the ability to play those one-touch passes in midfield, and then obviously we need to look for more forward runs in behind and flash more balls across the box.”
Last year’s introduction of the co-operation loan system gave several of Rangers’ academy talent to play first-team football while also playing in the KDM Evolution Trophy. This introduced a style of play that the Under-19s very rarely see in the CAS League. Stewart, Burnside and Calum Adamson thrived at Alloa, reaching the play-off final, losing out to Stenhousemuir. For Stewart, the exposure to senior football highlighted the differences between the academy and League One demands.
“It's definitely a change”, he admitted. "It's first-team football. In academy football, everyone really tries to play and kind of improve players on the ball and all that, but then come to places like this, it's a totally different game, and you need to try and adapt to it as much as you can.
“It was great; Alloa was a great loan move for me. Obviously at the start it was a bit ropey, and I wasn't playing as much as I would like, but then I came on against, I think it was Montrose, and I scored, and I just kicked on and really adapted to it really well. Getting to the play-offs in my first loan is really enjoyable.
“It was definitely easier, I'd say [playing alongside Adamson and Burnside] because we already had that connection, but I think it was all our first loans; we always had to adapt individually first and foremost, and then the connection just came naturally.
"The biggest thing for me was the physicality and the speed of the game. If you're a player that's a lot more physical and a lot older and more experienced, then you kind of have to adapt to that, and the speed of the play just speaks for itself.”
Success at Alloa last season did not go unnoticed as Stewart has been rewarded with a loan in the Championship this season. Rangers partnered with Queen’s Park in their co-operation agreement for this season, meaning Stewart makes the step up from League One alongside Zebedee Lawson and Aiden McCallion in the first loans of their career.
“You can see it obviously in the Championship at Queen's Park when you go play in those games; the speed of the ball is really, really fast and you just need to adapt to it," he continued.
“It's definitely a big step; you can feel it when you're playing. If you look back at Alloa, I probably had more time on the ball. Then at Queen's Park it's split decisions where you play or where you take your man on, so it's definitely a big step.
“It's a lot more tactical, I'd say. You've got teams like Partick Thistle where it's really hard to go there, and maybe you do have to change and go a bit longer, but when we're at home we always try and play, we always try and keep the ball and try and create.”
Stewart’s inclusion in the squad for last season’s Europa League fixture against Porto gave him an insight into Rangers’ first-team environment. Now looking to build on that experience at Queen’s Park, he draws encouragement from Findlay Curtis’ progress under Derek McInnes and the manager’s interest in the academy.
He added: “It was really enjoyable to go over to Porto; it was great. Probably seeing how the first team get on with each other and what it's like in the changing room was the biggest part for me, because obviously at Alloa it's a change, but coming back and being in there with Rangers and being in that changing room was a whole different experience.
“That's something I'm aiming for is to try and play for the Rangers and play at that top level, so hopefully I do well at Queen’s Park and make the most of it.
"First team players all speak to you; they're all very helpful in training and all that around the building. They help you a lot, and I think the main one for us is Findlay Curtis. You all see what he's done, and obviously he's only a year older; it just shows that you can do it as well.
“[Derek McInnes] knows every player; he's into that. He likes to know his players before he does anything, and that's really good for us because, obviously, he really knows what we're about.
“Some of the coaches are out at the Queen's Park game watching, and I think that's really helpful as well.”
Training games between the Under-19s and first team provide further opportunities for Stewart to impress. Alongside those occasions, he knows goals and assists will be crucial to demonstrating his progress come the end of this season.
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“It helps”, he said. "They're the games that you can't take for granted. You know you're round there, even though it may be tactical and you're up against them, but you can't take that for granted. You need to be able to show what you can do on the ball while still trying to do what the gaffer's saying.
“I think the biggest one is goals and assists. You get judged on that at the end of the day; you can perform as well as you like but it all comes down to your goals and assists.”
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