RANGERS remain level with Celtic in the Premiership title race after a terrific 4-0 victory over Ross County. Alfredo Morelos netted either side of a brace from Ryan Jack as Steven Gerrard’s side eased to an important three points. On a pleasing night for the Ibrox boss, the win could have been even more emphatic and there were plenty of positives for the Gers on their trip to the Highlands.
RANGERS DIDN’T FALL BEHIND THIS TIME
When Gerrard’s side have hit the road this term, they have often struggled to reproduce the kind of form they have shown at Ibrox. Rather than allowing their superior skill and quality to dominate teams, games have become battles as their rhythm has been disrupted too easily.
Gerrard was hugely critical of the performance of his side at Tynecastle earlier this month and questioned the mentality of his players. On that occasion, they started slowly and never got out of first gear.
READ MORE: As it happened: Ross County 0-4 Rangers | Jack and Morelos score braces
A repeat of that sluggish start here would have given Rangers real problems, but this was a much more positive and assured showing from the first minute and once Rangers got the opening goal – Morelos finishing off a clinical move involving Joe Aribo and Sheyi Ojo – there was no looking back. The benefit of scoring first and not giving the opposition a foothold in the game was clear and this was much more like it from the Gers.
A TRICKY TEST WAS MADE TO LOOK EASY
This one had all the hallmarks of a potentially difficult evening for Rangers. A freezing night at the Global Energy Stadium was a far cry from their surroundings last midweek as a point was earned in Porto, but Gerrard’s side were as comfortable as they could have hoped.
This was a dominant showing from Rangers and a night that could have been tense and nervy turned out to be anything but as the opener from Morelos and then Jack’s double had the points wrapped up before the break. The Colombian’s second added a deserved shine to the scoreline.
Had anything been dropped here, it would have raised questions about what Gerrard’s side are made of and whether they can be title winners this term. This wasn’t the most glamorous game that Rangers have played in recent weeks, but it was certainly an important win as the momentum continues to build ahead of the Betfred Cup semi-final with Hearts.
RYAN JACK RAN THE SHOW
The faith that boss Gerrard has in Jack has been reaffirmed by his words and actions in recent weeks. The 39-year-old has enthused about his midfielder regularly after a series of superb showings and the new contract Jack signed, the second he has been given in less than a year, was proof of how highly regarded he is at Ibrox.
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Performances like this make it easy to see why. The two finishes he produced from the edge of the box were sublime as he left keeper Laidlaw only able to watch on as the ball twice nestled in the corner of his net.
But there was more to this Man of the Match showing than just the goals. Jack has become a leader, a player that makes Rangers tick as he controls games with his passing, tackling and drive from the middle of the park.
A place in the Scotland side must now surely follow. On form, he is one of the finest players in the country, and certainly one of the most important at Ibrox.
BIG PLAYERS WEREN’T MISSED FOR GERS
The absence of Allan McGregor and Ryan Kent from the squad was a blow for boss Gerrard, while he made the decision to rest Steven Davis ahead of the Hearts cup clash and visit of Porto next Thursday evening.
The side is naturally weaker without three such influential players, but it didn’t show here. Keeper Wes Foderingham was rarely worked on his return to the team, Glen Kamara played well in midfield and Ojo was a threat on the wing in one of his best outings for a couple of weeks.
The likes of McGregor, Kent and Davis will, if fit, surely come back into the side at Hampden. Gerrard has plenty of options, and plenty of difficult decisions, though.
With one eye on the challenges ahead, Gerrard was able to remove Borna Barisic and scorers Jack and Morelos from the action early on. Andy Halliday came in at left-back for most of the second half, while Jamie Murphy got a rare outing as he continues to step up his recovery from the knee injury that wrecked his first full season at Ibrox.
READ MORE: Ross County 0 Rangers 4: Ryan Jack and Alfredo Morelos both at the double in Dingwall
There was no goal for Jermain Defoe as he came off the bench just seconds after Morelos had fired beyond Laidlaw from a tight angle but the Englishman came close to adding to his tally with a header.
COUNTY DIDN’T MAKE THEMSELVES FELT
Co-manager Stuart Kettlewell spoke before this one about how his side had to make life uncomfortable for Rangers. He didn’t want his players to stand back and admire what Gerrard’s side were doing, but that is what happened for long spells as a deflected effort from Ross Draper was as close as they came to a goal.
This isn’t where the Staggies’ season will be defined, and the visit of Rangers was always going to be something of a free hit.
Kettlewell and Steven Ferguson will be frustrated, though. County may not have been expected to win the game, but they were certainly tipped to put up more of a fight.
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