For the primary time this season, Rangers have received a house Premiership match; Danny Röhl working wonders already!
On Sunday, the Gers beat Kilmarnock 3-1 at Ibrox, with Derek Cornelius breaking the impasse, just for Killie to equalise on the cusp of half time, however targets from Danilo and Youssef Chermiti after the interval cemented the victory.
That is simply the Gers second league victory of the season, beating Livingston at Almondvale within the final minute in September, thereby shifting them as much as fifth, simply 5 factors behind Celtic, albeit nonetheless 13 adrift run-away league-leaders Hearts.
New supervisor Röhl might solely have been in situ for every week, however now faces an important seven days, with a difficult journey to Hibernian to come back on Wednesday, earlier than the small matter of a Glasgow derby at Hampden within the League Cup semi-finals subsequent Sunday.
Forward of those huge video games, has Röhl unearthed an “thrilling” expertise who may replicate, arguably, the Premiership’s finest striker?
Why Rangers ought to have signed Lawrence Shankland
Throughout the summer time, Rangers have been closely linked with a transfer for Scotland worldwide striker Lawrence Shankland, provided that his contract at Coronary heart of Midlothian expired on 30 June.
After only some days unemployed, Shankland determined to remain at Hearts, signing a brand new contract on 3 July, and he actually confirmed Rangers what they may have had final month, scoring each because the Jambos received 2-0 at Ibrox.
Effectively, Coronary heart of Midlothian are actually the speak of Scottish soccer at this second in time.
On Sunday, Derek McInnes’ aspect beat Celtic 3-1 at a raucous Tynecastle, stepping into entrance because of an early personal aim, earlier than quick-fire strikes from Alexandros Kyziridis after which Shankland from the penalty spot cemented a 3-1 victory.
This leaves Hearts eight factors clear on the prime, trying to develop into the primary non-Previous Agency champions of Scotland since Aberdeen 41 years in the past, not going through one of many Glasgow giants once more till they journey to Celtic Park on 7 December.
Shankland himself has now scored eight targets this season, 5 of which have come within the Premiership.
In distinction, right-back James Tavernier is the one Rangers participant to have scored a couple of league aim throughout their 9 fixtures up to now.
Thus, the Hearts captain, a boyhood Rangers fan, noticed at Ibrox for April’s Europa League quarter-final in opposition to Athletic Membership, would unquestionably enhance the Gers’ present group, however did Röhl uncover his reply to Shankland throughout Sunday’s match, a forgotten star who may propel Rangers up the desk?
Rangers have their very own reply to Shankland
Sunday was actually a memorable afternoon for brand spanking new signing Youssef Chermiti, scoring his first senior aim since Might 2023, however Danilo was the striker who caught the attention.
When he joined the membership from Feyenoord for a reported charge of £6m in the summertime of 2023, then-manager Michael Beale labelled him an “thrilling participant who likes to create and rating targets”.
Meantime, Melvin Dupper of the Rangers Overview described him as ‘fast’ and an ‘superb instinctive finisher’, praising his work fee and urgent potential, however supporters have seen little or no of any of that within the two and a bit years since.
The Brazilian has scored simply 14 targets in 61 outings for the membership, sitting out 65 matches on account of harm.
Sunday’s header was simply his second aim since netting in the course of the 3-0 demolition of Celtic in January.
General, because the desk beneath outlines, Danilo had a really productive afternoon in opposition to Kilmarnock, regardless of restricted involvement.
|
Danilo vs Kilmarnock |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stats |
Danilo |
Match rank |
|
Targets |
1 |
1st |
|
Pictures on the right track |
1 |
2nd |
|
Correct passes |
11 |
nineteenth |
|
Duels received |
3 |
nineteenth |
|
Touches |
18 |
twenty second |
|
Sofascore score |
7.3 |
4th |
Because the desk paperwork, Danilo was not usually concerned in build-up play, emphasised by the actual fact he touched the ball simply 18 instances in 69 minutes on the park, three touches fewer than goalkeeper Jack Butland.
However, when his sole alternative of the afternoon got here, he took it, heading previous Killie keeper Eddie Seaside.
It could be stating the apparent, however having a dependable goalscorer may rework this group, with new supervisor Röhl making an attempt to rebuild a sinking ship that has hit all-time low, following Russell Martin‘s catastrophic if solely transient reign.
Hearts wouldn’t be clear on the prime if it wasn’t for the targets scored by Shankland and summer time signing Cláudio Braga, with Rangers nonetheless looking for their very own talisman in assault, following a scattergun summer time of recruitment.
New signings Youssef Chermiti and Bojan Miovski look substandard when in comparison with the pair they’re presupposed to be changing, specifically Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane, so may Danilo, a participant they already had, however many had written off, show to be the centre-forward Röhl can cling his hat on?
