A 2-1 win over Motherwell on Sunday lunchtime was in many ways a replay of Rangers’ recent 2-1 win over Dundee United.
It was a performance that can politely be categorised as poor in which Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side built a two-goal lead, only to give away a cheap goal and make life uncomfortable for themselves. Against an opponent who hardly played their way back into proceedings.
As shown below in the StatsBomb xG racechart, which chronologically measures the game’s shots, Rangers would win 53 percent, draw 40 percent and lose seven percent of the time if the game was replayed 100 times.
0.8xG was the side’s second-lowest domestic tally of the season, marginally higher than the 0.64 managed away at Parkhead.
Despite conceding little in the way of meaningful chances and never truly appearing in danger of dropping points, creating less than one xG is not sustainable.
One of the main struggles Rangers encountered in Lanarkshire was their inability to build meaningful possession in the opposition half. Only 70 percent of their 468 passes found the intended target and by the manager’s own admission “we were not good enough in our build-up to get a free man in midfield”.
Of those who started, the three players with the lowest pass completed percentage add further context as to why this was the case.
Antonio Colak attempted 12 passes, only four of which found their intended target. Meanwhile, James Tavernier and Borna Barisic attempted 65 and 82 passes, the two highest tallies, but completed just 67.7 and 65.9 percent of their respective efforts.
Possession was often worked wide towards either full-back who lacked central passing options, as van Bronckhorst detailed.
Colak was unable to offer a consistent option high up the pitch, Scott Arfield, starting his third game in a week, is more comfortable operating close to the striker and Malik Tillman pushed high on the left. The disconnect is shown in the pass network below with Colak isolated and the midfield largely absent.
Therefore, long balls were often the order of the day to get up the pitch and into the final third. As depicted in the pass network below, unsuccessful passes (yellow) were far more prominent than successful passes (red).
Of 84 long balls attempted from the defensive and midfield third, not including goal kicks, just 31 percent were successful.
Tillman’s goal was, in a sense, indicative of his team’s struggles. Unable to build play into dangerous areas, the American international took it upon himself to carry the ball from the halfway line and finish with composure.
There was also the rare sight of a set-piece goal. John Lundstram’s header was the first goal scored from a corner since the final day of last season when Cedric Itten netted against Hearts.
“[We need to improve] In every area. The performance today wasn't as convincing as in previous games in the league,” van Bronckhorst stated after the game.
But for a double red card leading to a late concession against Hibs, Rangers would be level with Celtic at the top of the table, rather than two points behind.
And yet, the stylistic and chance creation blockades keep reappearing. A performance like yesterday will inevitably lead to crucial dropped points if improvement is not forthcoming.
READ MORE
'Crossing is dead' - Why Ridvan Yilmaz inclusion can solve Rangers' left-side problems
Detailed Rangers player ratings as mazy Malik Tillman wonder goal revives sleepy performance
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here