How Michael Beale's Rangers are finding right-sided synergy

“That's important because you get a better understanding with the players you are playing with,” Tavernier said last week, discussing forming relationships on the pitch.

“Obviously you can train together but matches are different. If you have the same people around you, you’ll get a better feel for playing together.”

Under Steven Gerrard, the left-sided triangle of Borna Barisic, Ryan Kent and Glen Kamara was often more familiar than the blend of personnel who started on the right. There was a familiarity between the trio that comes as a natural result of playing together consistently and often.

Beale has found consistency on the right easier to come by since taking charge. Barisic missed his first three games due to World Cup commitments, Kamara has struggled with injury and Kent’s operated across the pitch in a free role.

In Sunday’s Viaplay Cup semi-final win against Aberdeen, the first half offered the best demonstration yet of this right-sided synergy starting to click.

Although both goals would come from the left as an Old Firm final was secured, it was interplay down the right which stood out before the break. Clever rotations and movement off the ball helped Rangers to break the defensive line down that side repeatedly. 

In the seventh minute, with Rangers holding the ball on the left side, you can see Tavernier is wide on the right with Tillman in a central position. 

As the ball is worked towards the right, Tillman drops into the space Tavernier’s forward run vacates.

Aberdeen now have a problem. Sakala’s movement into midfield from the right-wing drags Hayden Coulson, their left-back, out of position.

This creates just enough room for Tillman to squeeze a ball through Aberdeen’s defence, into the space Duk (Luis Lopes) is trying to block and Coulsen has been pulled out of.

Tillman possesses the vision and passing range to make this incision in the defence.

The trio make a countermovement to set up the pass. Sakala creates space at left-back which Tavernier can run into, given Tillman has dropped deeper.

Sakala’s run actually could’ve actually been picked out at the front post, outlined in red. Instead Tavernier opted for a back-post delivery which was cleared. 

The next chance created from the right featured a different combination. This time, Tavernier is deep and looks to find Sakala directly, with Tillman remaining higher and offering support.

Tillman resists playing around the defence, highlighted in red, and creates space by pausing to play a through pass into Sakala’s feet. Notice at the same time, Tavernier is busting a gut to underlap and make it into the box.

Sakala’s final pass is just overhit, however.

A few minutes later Rangers vary their approach again. This time, Tavernier moves towards the touchline and in doing so, pulls Duk wider. This opens up Connor Goldson’s passing lane into the feet of Tillman.

Tavernier recognises that space is on the inside and makes a darting run while Tillman waits for an option, before backheeling the ball to his captain.

The right-back’s intended pass for Sakala is intercepted, with the Zambian moving inside from the right.

READ MORE: Why Fashion Sakala and Malik Tillman represents Rangers' key change under Michael Beale

The next chance created from the right arrived after 20 minutes. Tavernier finds Tillman up the line with Sakala infield, but the American loses the ball.

Regardless, Rangers are primed to counterpress, seeking to win the ball back immediately after losing it.

The ball is diverted into the path of Tillman who plays a cute pass into Sakala. The forward fires narrowly over.

One final example is found just before the half-time break. Tillman has again dropped into the right-back spot with Tavernier in a more advanced position.

Sakala moves infield again to pull Coulson away from the left-back spot. And, with Duk’s positioning blocking a ground pass into Tavernier, Tillman opts to clip the ball over the top.

Tavernier could potentially pick out Sakala at the front post again, but opts for a pass into Alfredo Morelos, with the Colombian close to connecting.

Aberdeen would go up the other end and open the scoring after this move broke down, with more than a little help from the opposition defence.

In the second half, it was good work from the left that earned the win and turned the score.

First, Kent, Morelos and Ryan Jack combined to level proceedings before Scott Wright picked the ball up wide, drove through the Aberdeen back four and picked out Kemar Roofe for the winner.

The combination play on the right during the first-half that deserves equal attention. Clever rotations and off-ball movement to move opposition defences are no doubt helped by the familiarity developing between the right-sided triangle of Beale's Rangers.