Rangers crossed the ball 38 times against Raith Rovers and 18 of those deliveries belonged to Borna Barisic.

That overall total is well up from an average of 20 crosses per game since Michael Beale arrived in December. The depth of Raith’s defence and space they left down the sides was a determining factor, given the hosts’ territorial advantage.

The game was a reminder of the different ways Rangers attempt to attack down either flank under Beale, even if end product was limited during a slow match at Ibrox.

And yet, it was another win for the new manager, who's side excelled and excited in the open spaces left at Easter Road during the previous midweek.

Attacking fluency is still to fully arrive against the low block and will undoubtedly take a pre-season to reach the peaks desired. But how are Beale's men creating chances at the moment, and what do those patterns tell us?

Barisic is normally the widest player on the left flank. He doesn’t move infield and combine like James Tavernier or look to build attacks with passes as Ridvan Yilmaz has shown in flashes.

What Barisic does boast is a supreme crossing ability, so much so that Rangers will often create space for the Croatian in the same way you would a winger, isolating him one-on-one and loading the box in return.

Increasingly, teams are trying to work crossing positions rather than hit the box from the touchline, but the pace and accuracy of Barisic's delivery defies that notion. 

When the ball’s worked left in the final third, teammates don’t normally run towards the Croatian to offer combinations.

It’s one of the rare occasions where Beale perhaps doesn’t want his attackers ‘playing close together’.

Look at the left-back's key passes (passes leading directly to a shot) and assists in the Scottish Premiership this season.

There are a few entries from inside the pitch but largely, Barisic is creating opportunities by crossing from deep areas, normally beyond the 18-yard line. The resulting shots are predominantly focused around the six-yard box or deriving from cutbacks.

Things start to get interesting when you compare Barisic’s delivery to Tavernier’s, operating on the opposite flank. He’s mainly creating opportunities from deeper positions in the pitch and when the captain does supply chances beyond the 18-yard line, it’s often from narrower positions.

The resulting shots look very different to the efforts that Barisic is creating. There’s a complete lack of activity around the six-yard box in favour of efforts deeper in the box.

Tavernier isn't flashing deliveries across the face quite so regularly, combination play is far more common on the right.

What about players stationed in the midfield and forward lines?

READ MORE: How will Beale fit Malik Tillman and Todd Cantwell in the same team

Firstly, let’s focus on Ryan Kent. He spent the first part of this season pinned to the left touchline, reflected in his key pass map, and has since been handed a free role by Beale.

However, what is noticeable despite that tactical difference is his lack of chance creation on the right. Even if the 26-year-old is handed freedom, his main area of occupation in the final third comes down the left.

So, who is plugging the gaps on the right? Malik Tillman has primarily operated on that side of the pitch alongside Tavernier, Fashion Sakala and under Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Scott Wright.

The German-born attacker is all about efficiency in the final third. Only two of his 37 shots this season have been taken from outside the penalty box and aside from those in the forward line, only Scott Arfield has a higher shot quality (xG/Shot) of 0.16 to Tillman's 0.14.

His chances created map is similarly impressive. The US international isn’t crossing at all or operating near the flanks, instead taking up narrow positions and laying on chances towards the edge of the area.

Notice especially the cutbacks he’s providing on that inside right channel. Of the resulting shots in the penalty area, nearly all exist towards the right-hand flank.

This opportunity he created against Aberdeen is a good example. Tillman doesn't panic, hitting the box aimlessly, but accesses the valuable cutback zone before releasing the ball.

Sakala has provided crucial numbers in the final third since managerial change, particularly away from home, with five goals and six assists in 11 starts.

He’s a player capable of running beyond and playing flat crosses at pace.

Take this example from last week's 4-1 win against Hibs, where he picks out Colak at the front post.

Or this similar moment from the right-hand side against Kilmarnock earlier in the year.

Todd Cantwell’s still in the infancy of his Ibrox career and has started well, providing a couple of chances, and an assist, running down the inside right channel.

This assist against Ross County stands out so far.

Recognisable attacking patterns are starting to form for Rangers, even if it didn't feel like that during last Sunday's Scottish Cup tie.