How Michael Beale's Rangers extra-time change overwhelmed Aberdeen

“What we try to do is not change for anyone,” he said on the topic of playing identity.

“We have a set style of play that we adapt a little bit but we don’t change for our opponent. So there won’t be any surprises for Jim or Aberdeen.”

It dates all the way back to his first game against Hibs when he said: “I’ve not seen a great deal if I’m honest. I’ve been focused heavily on ourselves and the way that we perform because I think that a strong Rangers performing at our level will be enough in most domestic games.”

Up to this point, Beale’s focused on his own team’s performance and not reacted heavily to each opponent, like his predecessor.

That’s spiked a positive upturn. Rangers look better against deep defences, are creating more chances and, for all of yesterday’s nervous moments, largely getting the results required.

The 2-1 win against Aberdeen was another example of Beale helping change the game from the sidelines after Rangers had fallen behind, with substitutions and subtle alterations.

As the Rangers Review wrote at the time of his appointment, Beale’s main roadblock to success at Ibrox was not experience. His responsibility as Gerrard’s assistant, to build a team’s playing identity and improve individuals, was the exact remit waiting at Ibrox. And, after just over a month of media appearances, it’s fair to say he thrives in front of a camera.

Beale’s challenge was always going to be proving that he was the future. A fresh vision was needed, not a recycled version from the past.

“The ideas have changed a little bit, they've grown. There's more variety,” was Beale’s message during his first RangersTV interview.

“I had a big influence on Steven [Gerrard] and Gary’s [McAllister] ideas when we worked together, but now this is a Michael Beale team and it’s important that you see slight differences in that.”

Sunday's winning goal demonstrated two of those apparent changes from the previous era that have been evident in Beale’s seven games so far. Freedom in the attacking third and in-game tactical alterations.

Aberdeen’s reduction to 10 men undoubtedly impacted the decisions made by the Rangers bench, who opted to bring on Scott Wright for John Lundstram at the start of extra-time.

Alongside goalscorer Kemar Roofe, who later had to be replaced due to a shoulder injury, the former Aberdeen man helped to swing the game.

Look at Wright’s heatmap from the 37 minutes spent on the pitch. He was hugging the left touchline during points but not exclusively, handed the autonomy to move across the attacking third and pose a variety of threats.

Ryan Kent was the same, who Beale thinks is at his best when handed complete freedom. Getting on the ball all over the pitch.

While Fashion Sakala played more exclusively on the right, he also moved across to the left. Notably, his run down that side saw Anthony Stewart dismissed. Just as his instruction during the previous week at Tannadice, to "come off that right side and run down the left side at times and disrupt", earned the breakthrough. 

READ MORE: Rangers' Aberdeen win justifies Michael Beale's January comments - Joshua Barrie

Wright's first involvement came seconds after the restart. Starting wide on the touchline, he rotates infield as Barisic moves forward…

Because Aberdeen are marking up zonally and have a man disadvantage, he’s able to receive behind the midfield and tries to slip in Fashion Sakala, who has moved across to the left…

Two minutes later, the winger posed a different problem by getting on the ball in a different area. This time, with Rangers moving the ball from right to left, Wright receives by the touchline and attacks directly.

He then picks a pass rather than hitting the ball across the face of goal, while Roofe uses his body to guide a finish into the unguarded back post.

🔥 @roofe with the winner at Hampden.pic.twitter.com/koUCumBpmm

— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) January 15, 2023

“I’ve been speaking to Scott Wright about being more direct, when he is direct he is a much better player,” Beale said after the game.

“I want him to take on more one-v-ones, be a little more selfish."

Giovanni van Bronckhorst also wanted his wingers to be direct but his approach was more one-dimensional. Opponents always knew where the Rangers attacker would get on the ball and could compensate as a result. 

Yes, most managers would’ve made an attacking substitution in his situation yesterday but - just like against Dundee United, Hibs and Celtic - the manager also altered Rangers’ method of attack during a game.

Beale wants to remain unpredictable by handing his attackers freedom and so far, especially while he builds a style of play, that's helped Rangers to get results.