Well, Rangers may be on to something with the defence. For all the gnashing of teeth over Emmanuel Fernandez by Rangers fans, one thing cannot have escaped too many fans’ attention, and that is just two goals conceded in the last five domestic matches and one in the last four.
This is progress, however Rangers fans may view the Nigerian international. Clearly, his stock rose due to inflated hype from Barry Fry and media notions about him being worth £40 million, not to mention those three or so set piece goals he scored last season. The simple fact is, his defensive basics may lack, but the goals conceded column is why he stays in. But we’ll talk about him elsewhere.
Rangers defence delivers under Derek McInnes
The simple reality is that Derek McInnes seems to have settled on a defence that works. Ivor Pandur in goal and a back four of James Penrice, Olwethu Makhanya, Emmanuel Fernandez and Dujon Sterling. There is no way in for anybody else right now, given the goals conceded column.
The reality is that if you only concede two goals in five matches, you’re onto something. That has to continue, of course, and we will see how these stats all fare when Rangers face Celtic in another domestic match, albeit the League Cup. But the reality is that the foundation of any good team is its defence and not conceding goals, and Rangers have been doing exactly that, not conceding goals.
We will, as mentioned, appraise the Fernandez situation in due course separately, but the reason he stays in is that goals against column. He might be up to individual gaffes and mistakes, but when you’ve only conceded two goals in weeks, it doesn’t really matter if an individual is making errors.
Rangers defensive improvement continues with Makhanya
Olwethu Makhanya was maybe not quite as imperious as normal against St Mirren, but he was still solid, and he showed that in abundance against the Steelmen in the previous fixture. Another victory for Rangers with a clean sheet. And that’s what it’s all about.
If we win every single match with a clean sheet and an ugly goal, it won’t matter because we’ve just won the title. The simple fact is that the defence being settled is a way to achieve this.
Rangers defence finds an unlikely partnership
Derek McInnes has clearly plumped for that solid back four and that curious combination of having Fernandez, a lefty, on the right and Makhanya, a righty, on the left. That curious counterintuitive combination seems to be working.
The communication and partnership itself could be a lot better, and the two of them get cut open plenty. But for some reason the combination is working at the moment. It’s working in the goals conceded column anyway.
We might not see a lot of coherence between the two, and they may lack a lot of understanding. But abundantly, those two flanked by both full backs are working as a defence because the goals against says so.
Rangers defensive foundation is producing results
It doesn’t matter how they might look on the eyes, or how many times your heart might be in your mouth. The simple reality is that goals are what win matches, and not conceding them is how you don’t lose them.
And Rangers are doing that in defence. Incredibly, even with Naderi up front we’re doing it in attack too, but that’s another topic for another day.
At the end of the day, McInnes seems to have settled on what he’s got and seems to be fairly happy with it. And that be that.