Rangers’ win away to Aberdeen last Sunday felt like Pedro Caixinha arriving in Scotland to say: “I’m here to make Rangers the force they’re meant to be.”
There’s no doubting it’s been a poor season for the Ibrox loyal who have had to endure big derby defeats, mediocre draws and the odd shock loss here and there.
Things are on the up and if they can keep a winning run going then there’s still the outside possibility of finishing second ahead of the Dons.
To do that, it all needs to start on Saturday when they host city rivals Partick Thistle at Ibrox. It may not be so easy though. They face a team currently on an eight game unbeaten run, which includes a trip to Celtic Park.
To get the victory, Caixinha needs to enact a battle plan that is spot on. From team selection, to style of play, to counteracting threats.
This is that plan…
The Big Call: Dodoo in for Garner
Joe Garner is rapidly approaching ‘flop’ status at Ibrox this season. After a big money move last summer, by Scottish standards anyway, he’s failed to truly do much notable in a Rangers jersey, despite the fans trying their best to love him. He was ineffective last week against Aberdeen and the Gers didn’t truly come alive until he was subbed off and replaced by young Joe Dodoo.
Dodoo hasn’t had loads of opportunities this season but has pitched in when called upon. He was in devastating form last week in the last 20 minutes. Involved in the second goal before slamming home a third, he nearly got a second moments later when he ripped apart the Dons again and fired a shot off the bar, that Kenny Miller nearly converted for his hat-trick.
It was a fantastic cameo and one which surely earns him a start at Ibrox where he’ll have the full 90 minutes to show what he can do in a Rangers shirt.
If he plays like he did against Pittodrie then it could be a long afternoon for the visitors.
The Big Danger: Kris Doolan
Kris Doolan is a man attracting headlines this season and after scoring his 100th goal in Thistle colours is also a man full of confidence.
He’s been in fantastic goalscoring form for the Jags this term, netting 12 times in the Scottish Premiership. Only Liam Boyce and the Celtic trio of Moussa Dembele, Stuart Armstrong and Scott Sinclair have scored more. It’s also a higher tally than anyone else on the pitch on Saturday with Rangers players lagging behind his total.
That makes him one of the most likely to get himself on the scoresheet and he’s a danger that must be individually isolated by Pedro Caixinha’s set-up, or he could put Thistle into a shock lead. We’ve seen Rangers concede the first goal at Ibrox on plenty of occasions this season, often giving them far too much to do to get the win.
If the Rangers defence can keep Doolan quiet then they’ll have done a large part of the work required to gain a vital victory on Saturday.
The Main Man: Jon Toral
Jon Toral returned to the starting line-up last week at Pittodrie and provided plenty that had been missing from the Rangers midfield.
Emerson Hyndman may be the loan star that has attracted all the attention since January but Toral has quietly made himself a key man in the middle of the park. The Gers have won four of the last five games he’s started.
He brings composure, skill and vision to the Rangers side and that was on full display against Aberdeen. It was his persistence that led to the opening goal and across the 90 minutes he was arguably the Gers’ player most able to compete with a strong Aberdeen side.
If Rangers are to get a result on Saturday they need to build the game around him and allow him to find space in the final third. We’ve seen on multiple occasions in the 11 matches he’s played so far that he has the ability to unlock defences, even ones that come to Ibrox and defend deep.
