Rangers manager Steven Gerrard offered an acid response to Jim Goodwin’s rallying cry for the support of all clubs over Covid points forfeits as the Paisley club await the conclusion of their appeal this coming week.
"Is that the same Jim Goodwin, who was talking about trying to get penalties against my team a few weeks ago? The same guy?” was the arch response from Gerrard when asked whether Rangers would speak in favour of St Mirren.
In truth, there is not a club so far this season that Gerrard has not burned. The Ibrox side have scorched their way to the top of the summit of the league table with an alacrity and aggression that has been notable; Gerrard’s side are currently just two points shy of the Brendan Rodgers’ Invincibles team at the same juncture of their campaign.
It began at Pittodrie on the opening day of the season as Rangers emerged from a tough opening day fixture with all three points. They have yet to miss a league beat.
And while players, coaches, managers and observers alike have all become desensitised to the oddness of this campaign with social distancing criteria, its Covid regulations and its lack of any supporters within stadia, the lack of fans is something that Gerrard acknowledged has helped the Ibrox side at times.
"The first fixture at Pittodrie was a real tough fixture for us when they came out,” he said. “It was a challenge for us to go up there for the first away game of the season, up against a good coach who has his team well-drilled.
"The rivalry goes without saying but it was different going up to Pittodrie. It was a lot calmer in terms of the atmosphere. To play an empty stadium is different. It's still going to be a tough game but we're looking forward to the challenge at the weekend.
“They will have players back, they are in a decent period of form themselves, so it should be a fantastic match for everyone on the outside but for me the challenge is to go up there and try and get the three points and try and find the best performance from a Rangers point of view.”
This week has been spent consolidating that work as the Ibrox side took a rare free midweek to flex their coaching schedule.
“It gives you the opportunity to train more in 11 v 11 situations, in big spaces and to be rehearse and practise the real game because normally when you go Sunday-Thursday-Sunday or you have midweek games it is about training, recovering and getting ready for the next one,” explained Gerrard.
“There is very little time on the training pitch so we try to use this one as best we can in terms of resetting and getting ready for the challenges that are ahead.”
If Rangers goal difference stats are strong enough to be considered an extra point, not that it looks likely to be needed, as notable as the 57 goals the club have scored is the miserly 5 they have conceded.
And it is the solidity at the back that has enabled an attacking system to yield its rewards.
“I think having the players for a few seasons certainly helps in terms of getting them used to our organisation and how we want to play, in what we demand out of possession in terms of the speed of covering the grass,” said Gerrard.
“Everyone is well drilled and everyone knows what they need to do in their role within that. I have got to give them immense credit for putting their body on the line and the application they put in their training and preparation. It helps having two top-class goalkeepers behind that defensive structure and I think everyone has really bought into what we need to do when we turn the ball over or are not in possession. That has basically been the base for us to go and attack well from.
“They are related in terms of our identity and so far, so good. We had that off night at St Mirren [in the league cup] which was a bit of a blow to us but sometimes you need a setback or a wobble to reset and I think we have done since that point.”
Gerrard has already stated with some assurance that there will be no established first-team players leaving the club in the current window while any new additions are more liable to loan deals.
“In terms of big names going out the door, I don't think that will happen and myself and the board are on the same page as far as that is concerned,” said Gerrard. “We are linked with a lot of players, which is normal for Rangers throughout the two-and-a-half years, I wouldn't read too much into that.
“People are just throwing names at us and I'll be very surprised if we add any to it in the coming weeks, but at a club like Rangers, the size of us, we are always looking to improve and strive to get better so if something interesting comes up out the blue, it is something we would pursue.”
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