DESPITE accumulating a greater number of shots and enjoying more possession in yesterday’s Old Firm derby, Rangers were ultimately deserving of a 2-1 defeat that all but ends their title hopes.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst said his team played ‘almost the whole second-half in Celtic’s half’ and while true, ineffective crosses and low-quality chances resulted in the visitors seeing out the game with relative comfort.
Aaron Ramsey’s early goal was followed closely by Tom Rogic’s equaliser, while Cameron Carter-Vickers’ strike just before the interval eventually earned all three points.
The game’s xG (expected goals) trendline, measuring the quality of chances throughout, shows Rangers had a high volume of chances with little return in the way of quality. In fact, the visitors created better opportunities after the break despite spending plenty of time defending their box.
However, this game was not a totally one-sided affair and the hosts were bright in early patches. The course of the game was twice alerted by Celtic in their favour and Rangers were never able to recover having relinquished control.
Their early pressure which swarmed the visitors mirrored the 3-0 February reverse. They took risks off the ball with a plan to exploit the risky build-up patterns utilised by Ange Postecoglou’s side and force their attacking line-up to play in areas in which they were uncomfortable.
READ MORE: Rangers squad risks failure becoming Ibrox story as high-pressing approach is left unfulfilled
When Joe Hart had possession, Kemar Roofe normally pressed Carl Starfelt and forced him down the line, Ryan Kent was positioned aggressively, jumping from his role on the left-wing to form a front two as his side adopted a man-marking approach.
The intention to direct Celtic’s play was two-fold. By forcing them left, it kept the ball away from the right side where there was a natural three vs two, given Kent was inside the pitch pressuring Carter-Vickers, and forced Starfelt onto his unfancied left foot.
In the example below, by cutting off passing lanes and forcing Starfelt to play with his left, Rangers win the ball back high up the pitch.
Having averaged 24.5 pressure regains this season, Rangers almost doubled that total at 46 yesterday.
“We were one-v-one all over the pitch,” van Bronckhorst said. “In the transition moments, Celtic are dangerous so we were taking a bit of a risk.”
Their pressure map reflects a high line of engagement, with those at the top of the pitch set the tone.
56 ball recoveries, seven tackles, six interceptions and seven blocks were made in the opposition half.
Nobody could accuse the management staff of a conservative approach. Conceding goals at poor times ultimately quelled the game’s momentum and prevented a sustained first-half effort of intensity which, based on the evidence of the opening minutes, could’ve returned greater rewards.
Ramsey’s early strike was trademark van Bronckhorst, with a surging midfield run proving the difference. The move building up to the goal all started with Roofe’s above pressure on Starfelt, earning a throw-in high up the pitch.
To take advantage of Postecoglou’s ball-swarming approach, Rangers attempted to move play quickly away from the busy side of the pitch. Here, following the throw, Ramsey passes to Lundstram, moving possession away from the congested right side.
As the ball is worked wide to Bassey, Kent comes short before spinning in behind. Because play has been switched, there is the space to do this; the goal is strikingly similar to Alfredo Morelos’ opener against Hearts two months ago. The space between full-back and centre-back is evident.
As Kent crosses, Ramsey has escaped the attention of Reo Hatate and with Callum McGregor directing his attention towards the ball, the Welshman can score unmarked.
These vertical attacks were attempted throughout. However, when Celtic worked their way into a lead and the pace of the game slowed, the effect was lost. There was no space to exploit.
When Celtic had established a winning margin, they started to play long to restrict a high press. Look at Joe Hart’s pass map after the interval, there was little to no intention to play through the pitch and as such the game plan which had put the Ibrox side ahead was rendered ineffective.
Without space to attack, Rangers looked stale and their shot map reflects that. Only five shots came from within 15 yards of the goal.
As Celtic dropped into a low block, crosses started to reign in unsuccessfully from ambitious areas. A contingent plan to break down the hosts was lacking.
36 crosses were attempted by Rangers throughout the game, only seven found their target.
The second goal seemed to kill the hope of the home crowd and with that, the product on the pitch became increasingly stale for those of a Rangers persuasion.
Van Bronckhorst’s men had a high-pressing, aggressive approach to take three points yesterday. Their good preparation was undone by losing the battle in their own penalty box, which drastically changed the course of the game.
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