Nick Ware

Mon 18 January 2021 9:50, UK

Ianis Hagi has endeared himself to Rangers supporters with some impressive displays of late but his performance at Motherwell was a cause for concern on Sunday.

Steven Gerrard’s side dropped their first Scottish Premiership points since September 20 (2-2 at Hibernian) at Fir Park after Cedric Itten’s second half goal was their only reply to an early Devante Cole opener.

The Gers started slowly and were made to pay for it before piling on the pressure in the second half and forcing home an equaliser.

One man who was not present on the pitch for Itten’s 72nd minute leveller was Hagi, who made way for the goalscorer early in the second half.

Hagi found himself a peripheral figure at Ibrox earlier in the campaign but fought back in December to assert himself as a key figure after a series of impressive displays.

Before starting and scoring against St Johnstone on December 23 Hagi had not begun a Premiership match since a 2-0 win against Livingston October 25, and this goal prompted two successive starts which included a goal against Hibernian.

He was dropped for the crucial Old Firm clash on January 2 but his half-time introduction helped to change the course of the game and ensured his promotion back to the starting XI for next two games.

However he produced a poor performance against Motherwell on Sunday, underlined by a number of concerning statistics.

According to WhoScored, Hagi was comfortably Rangers’ poorest passer in the starting XI, completing just 68% of his passes with goalkeeper Allan McGregor his closest challenger on 76%.

The Romania international also failed to record a single dribble in his 54 minutes on the pitch while he was dispossessed on one occasion too.

He mustered only one shot and this did not hit the target as he proved himself to be an ineffectual performer against a Motherwell side that started the day bottom of the league.

Hagi’s failure to get into the game is shown in his 31 touches, less than every other outfielder in the Rangers starting XI.

He also won less than half of his duels (7/15 – 47%), per Wyscout, and picked up a yellow card before he made way for the goalscorer Itten.

Players can have their off day but it is slightly disturbing that Hagi saved one of his poorest performances against such a lowly side lacking in confidence.

The home side had not won in their last 11 matches before the visit of Rangers, a run that dates back to October 31.

These are the sorts of games that Hagi is expected to take by the scruff of the neck and show his inventiveness against a stubborn, low-block defence.

He failed to take the opportunity afforded to him by Gerrard, and the impact made by the man who replaced him will likely see him start the next game on the bench.

Hagi will have to fight his way back into the starting XI after this poor performance but he has shown he can do it before already this season, so do not be surprised to see this game act as a wake-up call and the 22-year-old to come back firing once again.

In other Rangers news, fans praise moment of magic from Gers defender.