WHEN Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou said Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final was decided by “moments”, he was broadly on the right track.
Rangers played with more authority than their city rivals, winning the key individual battles before Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s intelligent use of his substitutions proved decisive in the coin flip of the extra time period.
However, especially key was the right-hand side dynamic involving James Tavernier and Connor Goldson. With the role of the full-backs having been tweaked by the coaching staff over the last week, Rangers were able to gain the upper hand in the key battles down the right-hand side.
Right-sided rotations
The crispness of Rangers’ build-up play on Sunday was especially encouraging against an aggressive Celtic high press, which was facilitated by the rotations on the right-hand side of the pitch.
The Hoops pressed with two in their frontline (Daizen Maeda and Tom Rogic), but the spacing from the Gers on the right-hand side of the pitch allowed them to play through opposition pressure.
As Goldson picks up the ball here, Maeda blocks the pass into Ryan Jack as Rogic splits himself between Calvin Bassey and John Lundstram.
With Celtic keen to entrap Rangers into one side of the pitch, Rogic takes a step to his right to encourage the pass into Lundstram.
Due to Jack’s rotation into the right full-back area, Jota is drawn toward him.
This opens up the passing lane towards Tavernier who has pushed onto the midfield line…
…Allowing Rangers to move the ball into space in Celtic’s half.
By rekindling the rotations on the right-hand side under Gerrard, van Bronckhorst has unlocked the attacking potential of Tavernier once more.
In addition, by creating greater vertical movements between players on the right-hand side, Rangers have begun to use quick relay passing combinations to release players into space.
Steven Davis – a second-half substitute – drops into a position below not too dissimilar to Jack's location above as Rangers pin Celtic into their defensive third.
By doing so, he drags Maeda towards him.
With Celtic keen to avoid dropping deep, Reo Hatate races out to attach himself to Lundstram.
Davis and Lundstram are then able to cut through Celtic’s pressure to find Tavernier on the flank.
The Gers are able to enter Celtic’s penalty area after a smart turn from Scott Wright allows the attacker to feed in Arfield.
Remodelling the Goldson diagonal
Even in the periods where Rangers were forced to skip passes into midfield, Goldson and Tavernier still had the understanding to execute direct passes.
Indeed, it was a targeted long pass from Goldson towards his countryman which led to Scott Arfield’s equaliser.
With Scott Wright pinning Greg Taylor inside, it opens up the space for Tavernier (out of the picture) to threaten the last line of Celtic.
Goldson’s searching pass is perfectly weighted, allowing Tavernier to control the ball first time with his chest and assess his options.
With the Celtic defence dropping deeper to guard against the possibility of an outswinging cross, Tavernier elects to arrow the ball between the penalty spot and the edge of the box…
…before Arfield finishes with aplomb.
The similarities with Kemar Roofe’s opener against St. Mirren seven days prior are striking.
Goldson, again, lifts his head to spot Tavernier on the wrong side of his marker, with the right-winger (Fashion Sakala, in this instance) pinning the left full-back infield.
By doing so, Goldson can float a perfectly-weighted pass into Tavernier’s stride, who controls on his chest before fizzing the ball across the goal first time.
The ball is eventually worked back across via Ryan Kent where Roofe heads home.
The timing, weight and consistency on Goldson’s long passes are equalled by Tavernier’s immaculate technical ability, with the captain capable of taking the ball down at height without slowing down the move.
Recent games have also seen a greater variation on Goldson’s unerring long passing ability.
His trademark diagonal passes – likewise a staple of Gerrard’s football – have tended to be arrowed cross-field, from his position on the right-hand side of the defence towards the left.
However, in recent weeks there has been a greater emphasis on Goldson targeting Tavernier in advanced positions on the right, as displayed in the Englishman’s pass map from Sunday’s victory.
READ MORE: How Rangers pressed Celtic into submission with adapted April tactical blueprint
Defensive resilience
Equally, the defensive endeavour on the right-hand side helped stifle the danger Celtic have tended to pose down that flank in recent fixtures.
It was apparent from the outset of the game that, with Tavernier frequently taking up aggressive positions on the right, the Hoops were keen to exploit the space vacated by the fullback.
Only nine minutes had elapsed when Joe Hart attempted to send Jota in behind from a quick punt downfield.
Tavernier cannot recover from his attacking position quickly enough, although the Gers do well to restrict the Portuguese to a wayward shot from distance in the move.
However, Tavernier’s defensive contribution throughout provided security for Rangers, showcasing his tremendous stamina by holding a threat at both ends of the pitch.
Indeed, there was a moment deep into the first half of extra time where, as Rangers are cut open through the middle, Tavernier – aided by Goldson – makes three crucial interventions in a row.
Callum McGregor receives between the lines before shifting the ball wide to Jota, who has isolated Tavernier in a one-on-one battle.
However, the Rangers captain is able to narrow the angle of the Portuguese, showing him down the line before quickly pivoting when Jota shifts back infield. Goldson is also able to manoeuvre across to provide extra pressure on the Hoops winger as he unleashes a shot.
Celtic are able to sustain the pressure, however, as Wright loses his duel against Anthony Ralston on the edge of the penalty area.
Again, Tavernier is positioned adeptly to intercept the ball at the front post…
…before he is quick to get a block on Jota’s follow up effort.
Goldson acknowledges his efforts after Hatate skies a shot seconds later, in an image that typified the resilience of the duo on the afternoon.
There was a moment at full time when the cameras panned to Goldson as he took a moment to appreciate the celebrations of the Rangers supporters.
Out of contract this summer, the defender was perhaps soaking it all in for one of the last times.
Tavernier, meanwhile, was getting the adulation from his teammates.
Singling out two performers in a team effort seems slightly unfair, but, then again, both have been unfairly maligned during the low points this season.
Sunday was a vindication of their qualities.
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