We’re not down and out. As I look at Rangers right now, that’s the message that I’m sensing that is coming out from the group of players.
Whenever I was getting a bit of criticism from outside of the dressing room walls, which Rangers have had since the start of this season, I would want to go and prove a point. I can see it in Philippe Clement’s team at this moment. I can sense it from their actions. Could it get better? Of course it could. Like everyone else, I know it can improve. But I’m seeing signs, positive signs, that a team is beginning to gel together.
Malmo offered me more evidence. Everything in the garden is not rosy. I’m not saying that, But I’m liking some of the aspects and there is a chance to look at the positive side as opposed to the negative.
I’m not getting carried away. It’s been a tough start. Losing out on the Champions League was a bitter disappointment and so was the heavy defeat to Celtic. But the last three games since the international break have seen Rangers come back, stand firm and show that, although still a work in progress, we are going to show what we are all about.
Rangers being Rangers, you have to go again, Back it up. No good winning in Sweden and returning to drop points against Hibs.
Produce game-on-game, that’s the demand and it’s a full house at Ibrox tomorrow for the match. That’s even more exciting for the players than last week against Dundee.
What should also put positivity into the fans as they make their way to the stadium is the demeanour of their team. It’s a hugely important aspect. They need to see a team with a desire and a drive and that’s what is coming across in their last three displays, notably in Malmo.
Just, in general, the way Rangers approached the game on the front foot was a hugely-positive sign. It was an ideal start with a goal after 56 seconds through Nedim Bajrami and that was solely down to being on the offensive.
Being aggressive, pushing. Forcing Malmo into a mistake by harassing the full-back inside a minute set the tone and it was a brilliant one-two off the post from Cyriel Dessers for his team-mate to score!
Seriously, that fast start spoke volumes about their thought process. They had the belief to go and impose their game and the confidence grew throughout the side.
Although Malmo had a bit more possession at the beginning of the second-half with a little-more purpose, I never felt threatened watching it. At no stage did I think the Swedes were going to come back, even if the one aspect if you wanted to be picky was about Rangers being more clinical.
That game should have been put to bed by half-time, but I always felt Rangers were in control. As I said, demeanour is important, but so are displays. And all areas of the side gave reason for optimism.
I always feel it is simple to say Malmo didn’t offer anything, but that could just as easily be down to that Rangers approach to their task. All over the pitch, the hosts were hustled into errors. When they tried to play out, Rangers drew mistakes by getting after them and not allowing them to settle.
I put a chunk of Malmo’s lack of creativity and performance down to Rangers with all departments of the side catching the eye in their own ways.
Defensively sound. Three clean-sheets on the bounce to lay a platform. When looking at the new central partnership of Robin Propper and John Souttar in the beginning, you are unsure how it would pan out.
Listen, I think if you ask both of them, they will want to improve in aspects, but you take three successive clean sheets all day long and Neraysho Kasanwirjo showed good signs on his first start.
Middle of the park was strong. When I’m sitting in the stands watching, I want to see real good football and people controlling a game in there.
Rangers did that in parts, but the dirty side is also crucial. The times when you have to roll sleeves up, dig deep, make covering runs and get close to opponents. I saw that from Mohamed Diomande and Connor Barron. You look in those boys and there’s not a raft of experience between them.
Of course, I know they played plenty with their former clubs, but it’s a different pressure at Rangers and they handled it in Malmo. Again, they can improve, but more really good signs.
Also, very importantly, the wide boys looked dangerous. Rangers have not had a massive cash pot to bring in players and I look at Bajrami and Vaclav Cerny as main ones signed.
When you bring players into those forward areas, they need to produce. I thought both of them did so in Malmo.
Cerny should have scored with a one-on-one, Bajrami could have scored another when he tried to find Dessers instead of shooting. But my main feeling is that they are starting to make a tangible impact and that is what you need from your forward-thinking players. No doubt. Ross McCausland’s cameo and goal from the bench just supplemented that.
It’s progress around the pitch. It’s a sign things are moving in the right direction. And it’s a sign these Rangers players are not prepared to accept any accusations they are not up to the job and have a burning drive to prove otherwise.