What can Rangers expect from Ross County after player exodus and underwhelming start

Following an eventful Thursday night match with Alashkert, Steven Gerrard will hope that his side is able to put on a performance for the first travelling Rangers support in 18 months.

What type of challenge can his side expect from County? 

Rangers vs Ross County past encounters

Given the change in management - little can be divulged from the three Rangers victories in this fixture last season.

While there was a number of departures from Dingwall in the summer, there remains a core of players from the 20/21 campaign. The team that started against Hibs in their last league match had just one new summer signing – former Hamilton midfielder Ross Callachan.

But overall, it has been a summer of transition in the Highlands. No less than 15 players were released along with manager John Hughes in May before the appointment of ex-Watford and Cardiff manager Malky Mackay.

"It's going to take two to three transfer windows to actually change the squad and strengthen it to the way I like," Mackay commented on the rebuild. "But we've been working hard to try get players in. It's not easy. It's a strange market."

READ MORE: Rangers 1-0 Alashkert: All the stats and trends in our data-driven match report

Thus far, 14 players have come through the doors including a number of youngsters.

How can they be expected to play?

County started their opening day draw against St Johnstone with a back three in possession that became a back five when they were under pressure. Jordan White is a physical presence through the centre, while Harry Paton and Callachan provide quality and forward runs from midfield.

In both league matches this season the Staggies have really struggled to create any quality chances, drawing 0-0 with St Johnstone and losing 3-0 to Hibs.

Against St Johnstone on the opening day, they ended the game with an xG of 0.21 to the host's 1.71 – that game was more even than xG suggests in open play, with a missed penalty boosting St Johnstone’s expectation. In the capital against Jack Ross’ side, the numbers stood at 1.39 to 0.34 in favour of the Leith men.

The extra coverage of a three-man defence allows plenty of intended fluid forward movement from midfield, whether that be to run off of a White knockdown or progress the ball vertically at speed.

County played very low at Easter Road – this screengrab from within two minutes demonstrates a deep backline that invited pressure from the off.

This made attacking inroads challenging to find, with such a low starting position at turnovers.

The trend continued throughout the first half and home goals felt inevitable. This still was taken just before a Christian Doidge goal.

The below shot map stipulates how little County have created this season. When chances have been forthcoming, they've often resulted from crosses. 0.48 of their 0.67 xG so far this season has resulted from balls into the box and a further 0.10 from set-pieces.

What do the stats say?

We are of course only two games into the season, but the use of some metrics can help signify the intentions of teams.

Firstly, only Dundee who were on the end of a 6-0 hammering at Celtic Park have a worse xG difference table, a metric that measures the cumulative xG for and against.

In terms of pace towards goal, County sits at the league average. They as mentioned above have tried to get the ball forward quickly in possession and use White as a target.

Finally, they are yet to complete a pass in the opposition box. This backs up the shot map findings - demonstrating they've struggled to create chances aside from via crosses so far.

What do the fans think?

Peter Mackay is a freelance journalist and Ross County supporter who covered the club last season.

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He said: "In pre-season it was clear to see how he wanted to play. Against St Johnstone we looked defensively solid but lacked a lot up top. In the second match vs Hibs, we looked decent at a push, and if it were for an eleven-minute spell of dreadful defending we could have seen a more positive result."

Asked if such a large clearout was needed, he added: "It definitely was needed, but probably not to such a high extent. Most County fans would have been over the moon for yogi (Hughes) to stay, and many of the players who were released were undoubtedly good enough to remain at the club."

"In all of Malky’s games we have started with a back five, so it’s clear that he is trying to once and for all mend our infamously leaky defence. It might seem slightly negative, however many of the players including wing back Charles-Cook and midfield duo Ross Callachan and Blair Spittal are given large amounts of freedom to roam forward and join the attack.

"Playing against Rangers however this may be difficult as our backs may be to the wall for the large majority of the game."