Rangers 4-2 Ross County: Why were Steven Gerrard's side defensively vulnerable?

Ross County were quicker to second balls for both of their goals and looked far better going forward than has been the case in the opening two games of their Premiership season.

Rangers undid plenty of the good work and control they displayed throughout with a few lapses that were taken advantage of.

As the Rangers Review wrote before the tie, the Dingwall side had created next to nothing in open play during their two opening league fixtures.

According to StatsBomb, County had a cumulative xG of 0.67 to show before Sunday’s match - having only taken one shot that wasn’t a header inside the box during that time. In short, they weren’t displaying all that much fluidity going forward. 

Through a lack of pressure on balls out from the back and some individual wrong choices – the home side was able to fashion far more valuable opportunities than in previous games.

Here, The Rangers Review take a deeper look at three instances that demonstrate why this was a below-par Rangers performance without the ball by the standards they set last season.

Goal: Harry Clarke - 40

Steven Gerrard’s side drew success themselves from a set-piece routine as Connor Goldson scored in the first half, they were guilty of being undone from a dead ball in the same 45 however.

As can be seen, the visiting team are very front heavy. County's strong headers of the ball are nearer the front post, which occupies Rangers’ best aerial protection.

James Tavernier is the furthest player back, but he is being blocked from dropping onto Callachan who peels around the back by eventual goalscorer Harry Clarke. 

READ MORE: Detailed Rangers player ratings as Joe Aribo and Alfredo Morelos impress against Ross County

This shield is a common theme used in set-piece routines to free up a man. One of the Rangers players in the middle of the defensive line should have had the intelligence to drop off and help Tavernier at the back post, given they are far outnumbering their opponents.

While Callachan is inches away from connecting, he takes the ball wide and sets it back to be crossed in. That pass isn’t pressurised enough by Aribo who turns his back, Alex Iacovitti nips in front of Leon Balogun from the cross to force a save from Allan McGregor and Goldson can’t block Clarke’s eventual strike.

A chance that was originally created through a well-worked set-piece routine had almost constructed a goal – but the home side's first would instead come as a result of reacting quicker to second balls.

The set-piece was a clever ploy from County. The delivery of the ball demonstrates that the intended recipient was Callachan. It’s a near mirror image of the way Rangers managed to free Ianis Hagi by dragging Livingston to the front post by overloading that area on the opening day of the season.

Chance: Blair Spittal - 61

This opportunity could and should have resulted in the match going 3-2. It was the most glaring exploitation of Rangers' high line throughout the match, but there is far more to the eventual shot than a long ball in behind.

A high line allows Rangers to keep the ball as far away from their goal as possible and limit the space the opposition has to play in. It’s a high-risk strategy, when one part of the structure isn’t working it can all unwind.

First, let's look at the clip again to set the scene.

Notice that Gerrard ushers Ryan Kent over to pressurise the ball before Clarke clips his pass in behind. He knows his side's speed isn't quick enough in this instance.

Clarke has an initial glance at the movement ahead of him. He is given too much time to play a deft ball around the side of Balogun and Calvin Bassey. Balogun isn’t in line with the rest of his defence which means the move is onside.

Furthermore, two county players gamble on making vertical runs. Goldson isn’t dragged across, but Spittal is able to pick the ball up in behind and have a shot on goal. Again Rangers aren’t quickest to the second ball, the forward blazed a second effort over.

To draw on a theme, this type of vertical run to try and occupy both centre-backs and drag them out of position was apparent in the away leg with Malmo. On this occasion, the midfield does not track back and both centre-backs are pulled out of position. Against County, Balogun was left two-on-one.

Liverpool’s high line is a key proponent of how they press teams and attack without the ball. It’s the same at Rangers. In our long-read on Michael Beale’s tactical philosophy, we explained how he sets the team up to defend as they want to attack. An aggressive approach without the ball allows that.

Here’s an example of when an unopposed through ball led to the concession of a goal for Liverpool in a match with Real Madrid.

The front three don’t pressurise distribution and Vinicius Junior runs in behind to score. If Toni Kroos is harried, perhaps the ball is not so perfect. If there is no defending from the front, a high line can be easily exploited through a simple ball into space.

"It's not about the last line, it's about what you do in front of that," Klopp said after losing the match. 

For the high line to work, it needs protection from such measured distribution. Otherwise, a team invites a foot race over the top of the defence.

After a pre-season win over Real Madrid, Gerrard was quick to praise his side’s speed over the grass. What he means by this is the aggression with which his team shuttled across to prevent unpressurised passes.

READ MORE: Analysis: Rangers' 4-3-3 mid-block defensive approach analysed

It’s likely a sharpness issue, but his team must iron out these creases or opposing teams will have a clear means with which to create routes to goal.

Penalty kick: Jordan White - 77

The second home goal was again the product of some slack moments that were capitalised upon.

Rangers are far deeper in this shot, leading 3-1 they have dropped their defensive line.

Regan Charles-Cook receives the ball and attracts Tavernier – as well as Aribo – but both are taken out of the game as the winger sets possession back for a one-two.

Given County have thrown extra men forward, Steven Davis has to leave the space at the edge of the box to try and shut down the threat at source. 

However, he is bypassed and Charles-Cook can exploit the space Davis has vacated.

McGregor saves his initial effort and in throwing himself at a shot, Bassey is penalised for a handball from a follow-up shot.

In the first instance, Aribo should have maybe protected the space instead of doubling up on Charles-Cook, but this goal is also a product of Rangers gambling on keeping their forwards high and then being slightly outnumbered in midfield. Everything is a trade-off however, the third goal was partly due to Kent remaining high for when his team regained the ball.

Summary

Unlike in recent weeks, the Ibrox side conceded while ahead. This was a performance that offered plenty of encouragement and exemplified that an attacking groove has been rediscovered.

But having now conceded on average a goal a game in all competitions, the defensive performance will have to improve. So too will the left side of the defence, which was clearly targeted with success in Sunday's second half.

The tactical set-up Rangers utilise is largely focused on how they can attack, their manager wants them to be aggressive without the ball as well as with it and when they aren't, there is space opposing sides can exploit.

“We are trying to be more organized at times and we are still trying to fine-tune that," was Gerrard's admission on RangersTV.

“We are still waiting to have a full squad and be fully settled so we will get better."

Two huge tests now follow for the team, both of which will require a level of speed, discipline and aggression out of possession that they're yet to fully adopt this season.