MARK WARBURTON’S philosophy is centred on his unshakable belief that if Plan A isn’t working then Plan A quite simply has to be done better.
Plan A didn’t work on Saturday unless, rather strangely, it was to allow Hibernian so much space in front and behind the Rangers back four that being given so many chances would eventually lull them into a false sense of security.
With three minutes gone, as James Tavernier jogged back into position and while Rob Kiernan opted not to tackle or even properly close down Anthony Stokes who surely could not have believed how easy it was for him to score, a warning bell should have sounded in the Rangers technical area.
When Stokes put a shot narrowly past after Jason Cummings twice ridiculed Kiernan, a change should have been made. Nothing happened. Indeed, as the back four creaked and those players in front failed to offer any real protection, Warburton did so much as tweak his team.
Hibs got chances they should never have had. They had 21 shots to Rangers seven and it’s not as if the Easter Road back three were brilliant. Wes Foderingham made four fine saves, Stokes hit a post and genuinely good opportunities in front of goal were not taken by the eventual winners.
Warburton didn’t attend the post-match press conference – he should have as it happens – so we still await to find out what he felt about the actual game, specifically his team’s performance in defence which came as no huge surprise to anyone who has watched a lot of them this season.
Tavernier had a nightmare but then he is prone to wandering up-field and utterly forgetting his primary function. You get away with that against Dumbarton and Alloa, and a Celtic team managed by Ronny Deila, but not against any strong opposition whose manager has worked out that the right- back is rarely right back.
Kiernan was almost as bad, Danny Wilson bailed him out a few times, and even Lee Wallace, so reliable for the past few years, was dragged down. In the cold light of day it has to be said that Hibs could and probably should have won by more.
Their second and third goals came from corners which Rangers utterly failed to defend. Again, this had happened on a few occasions this season, but such was the strength of the side in comparison to most of the others teams that it didn’t really matter.
However, given that Falkirk twice and Hibernian three times beat Warburton’s men, on days when the back four struggled badly, it does make you wonder whether the Rangers coaching staff have noticed there is a serious problem.
Saturday highlighted every glaring weakness of Warburton’s side. The harassing Hibs front two forced the Rangers defence had to play it long into a midfield full of green shirts and within moments Foderingham’s goal was being attacked.
The idea the Championship winners can challenge at the top of the Premiership with that defence is laughable. There is also no protection in front. Two centre-halves, a right-back and one clever midfielder to mind the shop – Joey Barton – are required.
Stokes was made to look like Cristiano Ronaldo at Hampden. Rangers will have to deal with far better players with next season.
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