KENNY MILLER scored his 100th goal for Rangers on a night when the result was all-important to his team and yet they turned in something of a performance as well.
The display in this victory in the Highland capital was not one for which ballads will be written about; however, the pace, pressing and passing, so lacking is many previous performances, were all back at least to some degree.
Inverness had their moments and after five games without defeat held the belief, if not the final ball which cost them, that they could take something from the match. Too often they delayed a pass or chose the wrong option.
Rangers are a better side with Andy Halliday in midfield and Miller as the striker. Forget how old he is, the 36-year-old remains his team’s best frontman and when you add in his work-rate and calmness on the ball – he still does have his bad moments even after all these years - his manager must pray the old legs hold up.
Niko Krancjar is also beginning to look a player and not a liability. He seems leaner which allows him to get about the park and is pushing for a start against Celtic next Sunday.
Mark Warburton won’t be fooled even if this win on a cold night in Inverness was welcome. His team will need to find another level at Hampden Park. But at least he could see improvement from a month ago.
As for Inverness and their young manager Ritchie Foran, they are far from the team many tipped for relegation. They created enough chances to score.
The start of the game was frantic and imminently watchable. Indeed, it was good fair from start to finish.
The home side should have been ahead after three minutes. A free-kick close to the left touchline was taken well by Greg Tansey, the large figure of Lonsana Doumbouya got to the ball first but he put his header over from six yards.
Liam Polworth was next to have a pop after some good Inverness play, he shot from the edge of the box after a nice piece of skill which shifted the ball from his right to left foot, but it was right at Wes Foderingham.
Rangers’ first moment worth mentioning came on 12 minutes when from the best part of 30 yards, Martyn Waghorn sent a powerful shot just a few inches too high of the goal. It was decent stuff.
Kenny Miller’s goal on 22 minutes was more then just decent; it was truly spectacular. Lee Wallace, as his want, charged down the left wing, looked up and spotted Miller in space inside the Inverness box if not in the best position to get off a shot.
The captain crossed, his veteran team-mate took the ball on the volley and his superb first time effort beat Owain Fon Williams at his post, such was the accuracy and power of his effort. Miller remains a fine player capable of sublime moment such as this.
Rangers came close to a second minutes later. A Kranjcar corner was met by Clint Hill whose header went straight to Waghorn who in turn turned the ball towards goal, only to be denied by a fine save from Fon Williams.
Inverness were never out of it. Just before half-time, Ross Draper got off a shot from 18 yards which Foderingham kept out.
Miller in this mood cannot be given any room, as he was in the opening minute of the second-half when his first time shot from just outside the area which Fon Williams, the keeper had a good night, did well to turn around the bottom of the post.
Jason Holt put a shot over from close range and then Waghorn sent the ball into the stand and the visitors enjoyed possession if not reward for having so much of the ball.
Holt went close again on 58 minutes when he got behind the Inverness defence, thanks to a fine run from Barry McKay, and a goal looked likely just at the moment David Raven wrapped his leg around the midfielder to put in a fine tackle.
Inverness then started to play a bit and had the ball in and around the Rangers box but there was no composure.
Foran put on Aaron Doran and Jake Mulraney for Ian Vigurs and Billy King on 67 minutes and then Joe Garner and Joseph Dodo got on for McKay and Waghorn.
There was always something happening. Mulraney had a dipping effort which looked good in the air but was straight at Foderingham, then on 73 minutes Miller’s blocked scissor-kick in the Inverness box, David Raven was the defender who got in the way, almost led to an equaliser.
Inverness broke quickly, Polworth ate up the yards with his pace and then picked out Doran with a lovely pass, the substitute had a clear sight of goal but his shot was weak and Clint Hill cleared. Doran went close soon afterwards after more good play and Rangers began to start look at the clock.
Alex Fisher, the third Caley Thistle sub, missed a glorious chance four minutes from time when Doran, who should have started given the impact he made, picked him out with a superb cross and the forward leapt untroubled and then sent a header wide from eight yards.
It was to be Rangers' night and Miller was the man, How man times have we heard that?
Inverness Caledonian Thistle: Fon Williams, Raven, Tremarco, Warren, Polworth; Draper, Vigurs Doran 67), Tansey, King (Mulraney 67); McKay, Doumbouya (Fisher 80)
Substitutes not used: Mackay, Horner, Boden, Cole
Rangers: Foderingham; Tavernier, Kiernan, Hill, Wallace; Halliday, Holt, Kranjcar (Windass 75); McKay (Garner 69), Miller, Waghorn (Dodoo 69)
Substitutes not used: Gilks, Hodson, Senderos, Forrester
Attendance: 7012
Referee: Willie Collum
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