RANGERS progressed to the Betfred Cup semi-finals with a 1-0 victory over Livingston as Glen Kamara netted the only goal of a fiercely contested and combative game.
The Light Blues have bounced back from the Old Firm defeat to Celtic with four consecutive wins across three competitions, but the performances haven’t matched the results on occasion. There is, then, plenty for boss Steven Gerrard to ponder at present.
RANGERS WILL BE RELIEVED TO WIN IT
In cup football, it is all about the final result and getting through to the next round. That was all that Rangers had to be pleased about here as they booked a semi-final berth.
Ahead through Kamara’s deflected effort inside the opening five minutes, the platform was there for Gerrard’s side to go and win this one. It turned into a slog, though, and there were few performances at the level that should be expected at Ibrox.
The Gers did have their chances to add to their tally but they were wasteful in the final third, with Sheyi Ojo and Scott Arfield not clinical enough when it really mattered.
It won’t go down as a memorable night for Gerrard and he will surely be critical in his debrief as attentions turn to Aberdeen. Rangers will certainly need to raise their game when they return to Premiership action on Saturday.
GERRARD TOOK THIS ONE SERIOUSLY
The Gers made just two changes from the side that beat St Johnstone at the weekend. Brandon Barker was an enforced switch after picking up a toe injury, while Kamara replaced Steven Davis as he was rested, although not for as long as Gerrard would have planned.
The red, white and blue ribbons need to adorn one of the trophies come the end of the campaign and a strong starting line-up was proof of Gerrard’s intentions here. But he wasn’t rewarded with a performance from those that he has kept faith with during an important run at home and abroad.
The Gers were unconvincing, or shambolic at times, at the back, had no control in the middle of the park and little about them up front. The away fans were far from impressed, and nobody could blame them after watching a really poor showing.
TALK OF GERRARD TO LIVERPOOL CAN’T BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY RIGHT NOW
The words from Jurgen Klopp, as the German touted Gerrard for a return to Liverpool as manager, were certainly interesting and newsworthy this week. But nobody on Merseyside or in Govan will be getting ahead of themselves at present.
As McAllister said at his pre-match press conference, many see it as the natural progression for Gerrard and there is no doubt that a return to Anfield would be the dream for the 39-year-old. He still has much to prove before that is even a remote possibility, though.
There is surely no chance of Gerrard succeeding Klopp if he can’t lead Rangers to the Premiership title and the prospect of re-joining the Reds won’t be in Gerrard’s thinking at present.
He has made a real impact on and off the park at Ibrox and Rangers are in a far better place now than when he was appointed last summer. There is still plenty to be done, however, and Rangers are very much a work in progress.
LIVINGSTON CERTAINLY PUT THEMSELVES ABOUT
This wasn’t a classic in terms of the football that was played but there were more than a few talking points and incidents for the officials to deal with. Both sides could easily have been a man down by the time they returned to the dressing room at the break.
Filip Helander got away with a challenge on Robbie Crawford early on as no penalty was awarded. That call was marginal, but there looked more in a tackle on Lyndon Dykes as the striker tried to burst clear.
It was Livingston who were the more cynical, and certainly the more physical, of the teams, though. Ryan Jack had to receive treatment on a head knock, while Joe Aribo was forced off after being clattered by Ricki Lamie as he led with his elbow into an aerial duel.
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Lamie somehow escaped punishment for a crude and dangerous challenge, but Dykes picked up a yellow after catching Connor Goldson with a late, high boot for the second time in just a couple of minutes. It was the same Gers player that felt the full force of an arm in the face from Aymen Souda as he was deservedly booked.
BUT THE LIONS ONCE AGAIN CAUSED RANGERS PROBLEMS
Livingston were ultimately left empty-handed when they made the trip to Ibrox a couple of weeks ago on league duty but boss Gary Holt was rightly proud of the efforts of his players.
On that occasion, they were unable to hold onto a lead but still put up quite a fight. Here, they fell behind early on and rose to the challenge to give the Light Blues a tough time once again.
A low effort from Keaghan Jacobs was as close as they would come in the first half and a strike from Nicky Devlin met the same fate just after the break as the ball slid wide of the far post. They were warning signs that Rangers couldn’t really respond to and Dykes should have done better as he tried to chip McGregor from the edge of the area.
With 25 minutes remaining, Souda struck the post after beating Goldson with ease but the clock was soon against Livingston. In the end, time, and chances, ran out.
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