Ibrox View: Lower match tempo could prove to be useful Plan B for Rangers
Despite dropping off drastically in form in 2020, there have been very few matches where Rangers have genuinely been dominated this season.
Sure, there have been score-lines that have been less than pleasing, but on the balance of play, the Gers rarely look much the poorer side.
And the stats seemingly back that up.
According to Wyscout, the Gers have averaged an xG of 2.09 compared to their opponents’ 0.8, as well as a pass completion rate that is 8% higher.
In terms of possession, Steven Gerrard’s men have averaged 60.81%.
But perhaps the most interesting stat relates to the Gers’ match tempo index.
Over the course of this season, they upheld a match tempo of 17.62, compared to their opponents’ 15.14.
Those standards never really slipped over the course of the season, regardless of the final result of matches.
In fact, the only time that Rangers failed to match their opponents in terms of tempo in a domestic match was during the 2-1 win over Celtic at Parkhead in December.
The Gers managed a tempo of 14.4 to the Hoops’ 15.73.
It’s an anomalous result made all the more odd by the fantastic result.
But one other thing that really stands out in that match is how differently Rangers approached their distribution.
The Gers played 12.64% long passes in that game compared to Celtic’s 9.18%.
As a point of reference, in the 1-0 win over Kilmarnock just three days before, Rangers played just 4.47% long passes.
Clearly, however, this approach worked.
Not only did they score twice, but they limited Celtic to an xG of 1.77 – vastly higher than their opponents’ season average, yes, but also hugely inflated by the penalty that the Bhoys missed.
Perhaps then, this is something that Gerrard can try to replicate in the future.
Not every game has to be dominated and every defence unpicked.
These figures show that the Gers are capable of sitting back, soaking up pressure, and hitting teams with long passes.
It could be a very effective plan B.
In other Rangers news, Ibrox Exclusive: Alex Bruce claims Ryan Kent can be ‘big asset’ for Gers in ‘huge’ 20/21.