GIOVANNI VAN BRONCKHORST got the result that he needed. Time will tell just how important it proves to be for himself and for Rangers.
A 1-0 victory over Hearts at Ibrox – earned thanks to a second half strike from Malik Tillman – ensures Rangers remain seven points adrift of Celtic in the title race. It will do little to quieten critics or win over doubters, though.
The trip to St Mirren on Saturday is all that remains now between Rangers and a much-needed chance to take stock. It could yet prove to be the moment for change in the dugout if the Ibrox board believe Van Bronckhorst is not the man to transform fortunes in the Premiership.
The Dutchman has had to address questions over his future for some time now and he has been honest and pragmatic whilst insisting that he can still achieve what he set out to this season. Dropped points here would have been the end of that ambition and avoiding that fate is the main positive to take from an otherwise forgettable fixture.
There has been a sense for a few weeks now that supporters have been counting down to the World Cup break. As much as Van Bronckhorst’s squad need the reset, the fans could do with the respite.
Events at McDiarmid Park focused minds and set the narrative leading into the penultimate fixture and the final home one before the shutdown. The stakes could not have been higher and Van Bronckhorst and his players were well aware of it after a furious backlash in recent days and weeks.
The conduct of the crowd was always going to be telling. A smattering of blue seats were visible around the ground but there was no widespread turning of backs on the team as the punters ventured out in their numbers once again.
The first challenge that Rangers had to overcome was to keep the home fans on side. Even those who are new to the club and city will know by now what Ibrox can be like to play in front of when things are going well and when they are not.
A groan of frustration inside the first minute when Tillman wasted a shooting opportunity on the edge of the area didn’t bode well for Rangers. For the remainder of the half, there was little to irk or excite as Rangers pondered through the action against a Hearts side that were there for the taking.
The Jambos offered almost nothing in an attacking sense. Josh Ginnelly burst in behind after five minutes but was thwarted by the onrushing Allan McGregor and then Ben Davies as that chance and the resulting corner came to nothing.
Rangers settled into a rhythm that has been familiar this term. There was plenty of possession but not enough dynamism and it was a largely insipid showing that bemused Van Bronckhorst.
The Dutchman cut a frustrated figure in the technical area at times. As moves broke down prematurely – either through wayward passes being played or wrong options being picked – it quickly turned into another one of those performances from Rangers.
Ryan Kent was one of the main culprits early on and his lack of confidence to beat his man or have a shot at goal was telling once again. Van Bronckhorst needed so much more from a player that should be a game changer and a match winner and it will baffle the boss that it took so long for the winger to finally make an impact in this fixture.
It was from a Kent cross that John Lundstram fired over the bar midway through the first half. That was the clearest chance for Rangers as the best of the rest fell to Antonio Colak.
A skewed shot early on was followed by an effort from a James Tavernier corner that the Croatian should have done better with. When he forced Craig Gordon into action minutes later, the Hearts keeper was out smartly to snub out the danger after a Tillman pass sent Colak free.
On the other side, it was Rabbi Matondo who won the lucky dip to play wide on the right. That position has been a trouble area for so long for Rangers and the fact that so many options have tried and failed there tells its own story.
The signing of Matondo was designed to address the issue in the summer but it has only compounded the problem as Tillman, Scott Arfield and Scott Wright have all had a crack at it. Yet again, it was hard to see just what Matondo is bringing to the team, or why he was brought to Rangers.
The boos that followed the half-time whistle have become a regular part of the matchday now. Given the performance that had been served up, it was no surprise to hear Ibrox let off steam.
The break seemed to give supporters a chance to stew. Patience was in short supply once the action resumed and the decibel level would have peaked had Andy Halliday not spurned a glorious chance at the end of low Ginnelly cross.
Either side of that moment, Gordon saved to his right from a Tillman poke towards goal and Colak’s acrobatic effort was wide of target. Minutes later, Tillman fired into the side netting.
The American soon broke the deadlock as a cross from Borna Barisic was converted with a powerful low strike that Gordon couldn’t keep out. The credit goes to Kent, though, as he finally made an impression with neat footwork and a pass that split the Jambos defence.
Alfredo Morelos should have doubled the lead and made sure of the points but he was denied by Gordon from inside the area. The closing stages were nervy.
In the end, Rangers got what they wanted and Van Bronckhorst got what he required. Another win and another three points in Paisley may just be enough to turn the volume down and buy the boss the time he needs and he believes he deserves this term.
