Rangers' Malik Tillman and Tom Lawrence pairing can release domestic handbrake

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s intelligent tactical decision-making maximised the potential of last season’s cohort in Europe, but Premiership performances were often less encouraging. The lack of substantial goal threat throughout the team was clear, particularly in the midfield which had often fulfilled the role of supporting cast under Steven Gerrard.

Early on in van Bronckhorst's tenure, the midfield took on greater attacking influence in place of James Tavernier and Borna Barisic. The manager gradually moved away from his initially-established 4-3-3 throughout the season but an offensive selection in the middle has always appeared to be his preference.

At the weekend, selecting two attacking No.8s in Malik Tillman and Tom Lawrence was key as Rangers put in their best domestic showing of the season.

Van Bronckhorst opted for two attack-minded midfielders ahead of one holding player and kept the balance by fielding Barisic slightly deeper than Tavernier. Rather than selecting Ryan Jack, Glen Kamara or Steven Davis alongside John Lundstram as has been the case in previous league games.

Rangers’ pass network, which charts the average position from which a player made his passes, shows the midfield pair played close to Antonio Colak with Ryan Kent and Scott Wright adding further threat from the wings.

It’s important to highlight that during Rangers’ last home match in the league, a 4-0 win over St Johnstone, the midfield trio also picked up advanced positions. Only one attacking midfielder was selected in Tillman, but Lundstram and Jack both made their passes high up the pitch and looked to impact the game offensively. 

While on Saturday the fluidity and tempo of Rangers’ play was improved the key difference was the increase of attacking personnel in the starting 11.

Tillman dropped slightly deeper than Lawrence and made a couple of important defensive interceptions to ensure Lundstram was not left exposed. 

In this example, he takes the ball away from Kazeem Olaigbe after the midfielder skips past Lundstram. Preventing County from a clear run at the defence.

Although a small detail, this demonstrates why balance is required in a midfield to protect against quick central transitions.  

Here’s a similar example. This time, Yan Dhanda runs one-v-one up against Lundstram before attempting to lay in his teammate Olaigbe.

Tillman is again in the right place having dropped deep, intercepting the ball before carrying it forward and winning a foul.

Notably, the game’s opening goal also relied on an effective Tillman intervention deep in the pitch. Adjusting his body smartly to turn a potentially perilous pass into a goalscoring move following Jon McLaughlin's pass.

Of course, the American’s value is largely shown in the final third and on top of the actions completed in his own half he helped to create alongside Lawrence. 

In the below scenario, the duo are sitting close to the last line and combine with Colak before testing Ross Laidlaw.

Lawrence was situated slightly higher than his midfield partner but throughout his brief spell at Ibrox, he has shown an ability to do the basics well deep in midfield and provide attacking versatility.

At points he was spinning in behind, pulling markers away and stretching the game vertically.

On other occasions, Lawrence took the ball to feet and looked to split the defence.

He twice went close with shots from the edge of the box and attempted six shots overall.

And completed an intelligent one-two with Kent prior to Colak’s second. Pulling markers away in the process.

Throughout, the pair made life uncomfortable for Ross County and managed to dominate in the centre at the same time. Lawrence and Tillman fulfilled the function of a second sitting midfielder out of possession and increased the threat of their side's attacking play going forward.

As Rangers seek to break teams down and create this season, they must have goal threats all over the pitch. Saturday showed how they can achieve that in the midfield without sacrificing control.