A tale of two Rangers managers after debuts v Hibernian

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A tale of two Rangers managers after debuts v Hibernian
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - OCTOBER 21: Rangers Manager Philippe Clement looks on during the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Rangers FC and Hibernian FC at Ibrox Stadium on October 21, 2023 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images)

If nothing else measures just how far Rangers have come under the right manager in just three days, it’s comparing Philippe Clement’s debut with Michael Beale’s, and the biggest twist?

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Both men faced Hibernian at Ibrox.

The Edinburgh side were even in almost exactly the same position in the league for both matches – bottom half of the table. 7th v Beale, 8th yesterday v Clement.

The performances and results couldn’t have been more contrasting. True, Rangers’ defence was missing Connor Goldson, but Davies was on the bench and it was Sands and Lundstram in the middle. Yes, really.

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But it’s Hibs, not Real Madrid, and they were near the bottom of the table.

Rangers shipped two goals under Beale, having gone behind twice, only for Morelos’ 62-minute winner to take all three points.

Look at the difference yesterday.

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Hibs basically didn’t have a sniff. They got that single weak shot on target the whole match – 7 shots in total compared with Rangers’ 23.

Against Beale? 10 shots, 5 on target.

The difference was night and day. Rangers were organised, defensively solid, and Beale’s nonsense management of ‘we’ll always concede’ did nothing but hurt Rangers for almost a year.

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But it’s being able to see an exact measurement of the difference for the debut against the same side, to see how badly Rangers were being mismanaged under Beale, and how superior things already are in two days under Clement.

We don’t know whether it’s a damning indictment of Beale, or a exalted high praise of Clement.

Maybe both?

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