AS RANGERS struggled to break out of their half in the opening 20 minutes against St Mirren, Steven Gerrard stood unfazed.
Far from disenchantment, the manager was analysing what was going wrong for his side who were being outplayed by their hosts.
A conversation or two with trusted lieutenant Michael Beale and a few instructions later, his team discovered the formula to destabilise their opponents.
A well-structured press was broken and a clear avenue through the pitch offered up. Thereafter the side would concede a measly one shot.
Here, The Rangers Review breaks down what went wrong and crucially what went right yesterday lunchtime.
St Mirren's approach
The home side pressed man for man on the Rangers No.6 (Steven Davis) and two centre-backs. If either full-back stayed deep in build-up Scott Tanser and Matthew Millar would jump up from wing-back.
Jim Goodwin’s side were trying to only show Rangers long or down the line. They were safe in the knowledge that Gerrard's men possessed no breakaway pace to threaten their high line becoming exposed.
This gave the visitors a two-fold problem. There was no space to play into and no pace to expose the opposing defence.
Below, Jamie McGrath and Eamonn Brophy block Leon Balogun returning possession to the centre of the pitch.
Millar shows Borna Barisic down the line with goalscorer Connor Ronan marking John Lundstram.
That plan worked and similar scenarios constantly repeated themselves during the first 20 minutes.
Throughout the opening 45 minutes, Rangers played 34 long passes. The highest total of a half in the season, and far above the average of 21.8.
The below passage of play gives a further example.
On this occasion, Lundstram has come slightly deeper.
This occupies Ronan who cannot push up on either centre-back. McGrath, therefore, goes tight with Davis before covering over and jumping to press Goldson.
Goldson is rushed in his distribution due to McGrath's curved run and the ball goes over Alfredo Morelos.
Despite losing possession this phase offered an inclination of things to come. It showed how Gerrard's men could earn time and space.
A change in approach
St Mirren were reluctant to leave either of their midfield two, Allan Power or Ethan Erhahon, on their own centrally.
While Goldson's above distribution was rushed it showed if Lundstram dropped deeper, no St Mirren player could drop with him. Therefore creating a numerical overload.
On 16 minutes Lundstram was ordered to 'stay tight' to Davis while Joe Aribo and Ianis Hagi moved to play on the same line. In a a 4-2-2-2.
Here, Lundstram drops into the left-back spot. With Barisic having taken Millar high, the midfielder gives St Mirren a problem.
If unmarked, Lundstram is free to progress the ball. In pushing wide to cover, Ronan leaves Davis open in the middle. By stretching play the visitors are making a three vs four count.
Power recognises this and reluctantly jumps up a line – but in solving one problem he creates another.
Notice the body position of Hagi as Power jumps onto Davis. His game intelligence means he is alive to the creation of space instantaneously.
Hagi can receive in space behind the St Mirren midfield - with Erhahon now on his own in centre-midfield.
Goodwin was understandably reluctant to commit an extra man to press. However, by keeping players high plenty of space started to open.
Rangers have ‘dismarked’ Hagi using their double-pivot – they are beyond the first line of pressure and into a dangerous area.
By varying their in-game approach, they've disrupted their opponents game-plan and rendered it ineffective.
The visitors move to a 4-2-2-2 meant build-up from the back was no longer a struggle. Balls were played through with ease instead of being hit long and possession gambled upon
Here, Lundstram is playing ‘tight’ to Davis which allows the pair to double up on McGrath.
READ MORE: Why Rangers using three number 10s allowed them to 'find their level' for 45 minutes against Hearts
Three opponents are taken out by a simple pass. Allowing the away side’s attack to start that 20 yards higher under far less pressure.
McGrath signals his frustration that Davis is free but Power is reluctant understandably to jump up a line again – given the subsequent space that would then be given to Aribo and Hagi.
The formation change moved Hagi and Aribo to start in either half-space.
This was so impactful because of St Mirren’s approach. The front three remained high, either wing-back was tasked with marking Tavernier and Barisic and both centre-backs had to take care of Morelos and Kemar Roofe.
The only players left ‘free’ were St Mirren’s centre-midfield pairing. But Aribo and Hagi played outside of them which created both goals.
See here with Barisic occupying Millar, Hagi can drift into the highlighted space unmarked. Power is unable to leave the central area.
The Romanian’s subsequent effort flashes just wide. It was a sign of things to come.
For the penalty award, notice the high position of either pair below as Roofe regains possession.
With each of the host's wing-backs high - it’s now the turn of Rangers to go man-for-man, press and win the ball.
Hagi receives from Roofe and wins the spot-kick. 
The game was now 1-1 and the ascendancy tipped in favour of Rangers.
Aribo’s big involvement came soon after. Roofe is again integral in creating the attack. This time dropping into midfield to gather a Davis flick-on.
He finds Aribo who, because of his high starting position, takes the attention of Tanser. But Tanser's man is now free as St Mirren haven't matched up following their opponent's alterations.
Look at Tavernier, bursting to get forward, recognising he can overload the right quicker than a St Mirren defender can recover the situation.
The captain is correct. Marcus Fraser does leave his position to cover - but by then it’s too late.
Notice Conor McCarthy’s outstretched arms in the middle. Joe Shaughnessy is not goal side of Morelos - therefore McCarthy doesn’t know who to mark with Roofe and Morelos on either side.
This explains why he misses the eventual cross. A lack of marking from Shaughnessy led to the defender being caught between two men.
Morelos duly scores goal number 100 for the club.
Conclusion
The first 20 minutes on Sunday appeared to show Gerrard got it wrong. Without pace in the team, a foothold seemed far off.
Tactical variation has been a much-discussed topic this season.
“I have to have the variety because some teams and some managers will try and stop this system. They’ve seen it for some years now,” Gerrard said in pre-season.
“Within games, I might have to tweak something or change something. Just to keep people thinking and opposition managers and have the variety to try and adapt within the game."
Sunday's game showed small variations to the strong principles in place can change outcomes. It was evidence of the manager's summer admission.
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