Rangers StatsBomb tactical and data-driven match report as Ross County target left side midfield gap

A 4-2 win came with improved overall performance. Alfredo Morelos and Joe Aribo put in excellent individual shows and for parts of the match, there was a tempo and zip to the display that has been lacking in August.

However, a fair number of high-value chances were also conceded against a team that has struggled to create much from open play this season.

Here, the Rangers Review brings you a match recap like no other. Presenting all the data and visuals from the game with the help of StatsBomb.

Trendline

The graphic demonstrates that while Ross County ended the match with an xG of 1.64 to Rangers' 1.8, The Ibrox side dominated the majority of the match. Their slowly increasing trendline shows plenty of lower value opportunities consistently throughout the 90 minutes.

Equally, this could be spun the other way. While County gave up plenty of possession, they stayed in the game and took their moments to attack. Their overall xG is boosted by 0.76 due to a penalty.

Furthermore, both County goals came during periods in which Steven Gerrard's side were not creating chances, they were instead remaining in a defensive shape to try and retain their lead but undone on both occasions. 

Pass network

There are a number of takeaways from the shape of Gerrard's team. Left-heavy, James Tavernier played extremely high to give the option of a switch if overloads on the opposite side weren't forthcoming. In terms of interplay and consistency, the team normally look better attacking down the left flank.

READ MORE: Inside Rangers' Bermuda triangle and why the right flank has been a problem - Adam Thornton

Ryan Kent had a more influential game going forward as shown by his darker circle. Glen Kamara's reintroduction alongside Steven Davis improved ball progression and were heavily involved.

Comparison of the first and second half pass networks shows that Rangers switched to a 4-3-3 after the host's second goal and a 4-3-1-2 after Kemar Roofe's introduction.

Given the second goal was worked through the visiting midfield, Scott Arfield was brought onto play deeper than Joe Aribo. John Lundstrum also stayed wider than Kamara, likely to offer more protection for the targeted balls that had garnered success down that side.

Ross County clearly targeted the Rangers left-hand side, all of their midfield runners were focused on profiting from second balls and overloading that side to pull the defence across. This is a growing trend for teams who face Gerrard's team, given a midfield runner will not normally drop into the backline for support.

A look at their first and second-half breakdowns shows again intention to make inroads down their right-hand channel, but also a change of position for Regan Charles-Cook. An option on the left led to the home side creating their second goal.

Shot maps

The clear takeaway from this shot map is that Rangers gave up quality chances in the box too easily. Both shots that led to Harry Clarke's strike were preventable. The two efforts from the right of the box were Blair Spittal's shots in quick succession - obtained through a long ball over the top.

The visiting team had 22 shots throughout the game. Interestingly, none of the accumulated xG arrived from open-play crosses.

Tavernier and Morelos both passed up good opportunities to the right of the penalty spot when through on goal.

The number of circles near the six-yard box shows that Rangers were successful at attacking corners. Connor Goldson and Leon Balogun both had three headers each - four of which produced saves.

Aribo's opener was a fantastic shot, the quality of his curled effort is demonstrated by the chance's xG and post-shot xG, which considers the quality of the chance given the quality of the shot, which jumped from 0.03 to 0.28.

The same goes for Goldson's header, which had a chance xG of 0.04 and a PsxG of 0.17.

The set-piece routine that isolated the Englishman at the back post had worked previously, his connection wasn't as strong however and that chance was saved. 

Pressure maps

The pressure map recorded by Gerrard's team demonstrates where the danger was - they tried to regain second balls and win back long balls down the left.

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

Notice how little pressure was applied across the front three in wide areas. Because not enough balls were stopped at the source, Malky Mackay's team were able to often distribute the ball unopposed to areas they wanted to attack. This didn't give the high line deployed enough protection.

As shown in the pass network, plenty of the away side's play came through combinations down the left, explaining the pressure applied from their opponents in this area.