Findlay Curtis masterclass, two teammates mediocre – Rangers player ratings vs Annan Athletic
Bojan Miovski scored a hat-trick against Annan Athletic in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup on Friday.
Danny Rohl welcomed Wullie Gibson’s team to Govan on 16 January, with the Gers winning 5-0 as Kieran Dowell also got on the scoresheet and Thelo Aasgaard scored an outrageous free-kick.
Andreas Skov Olsen was finally unveiled at Ibrox, with Tochi Chukwuani and Tuur Rommens also being embraced by the fans prior to kick-off.
After a shock defeat to Queen’s Park in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup last season, the Glaswegian outfit have ensured they don’t suffer embarrassment this time around.
Findlay Curtis makes Rangers statement vs Annan Athletic
Findlay Curits has been linked with a move to Kilmarnock, with Neil McCann and Billy Dodds keen to reunite with him.
Rohl made some surprising changes to his starting lineup at Ibrox, with fringe players like Kieran Dowell, Clinton Nsiala and the Scottish youngster in the team.
The 19-year-old had a slow start against the Scottish League Two outfit, but as soon as he switched places with Djeidi Gassama and played on the right-wing, he thrived.
Curtis provided the assist for Miovski’s second goal, with a brilliant ball played to the far post.
The Scotsman continued to pose a threat to opposition defenders and played at left-back after Rabbi Matondo and Zebedee Lawson were introduced, but the German manager may still feel he should go out on loan to continue his development.
Nasser Djiga and Clinton Nsiala weaklinks at Ibrox
Nasser Djiga’s stint at Ibrox has been far from successful, with the Burkina Faso international getting his first start since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations.
Clinton Nsiala has played a bit-part role at the Glaswegian outfit this season after being frozen out of the squad by Russell Martin last summer.
Despite the win against Annan, the two centre-backs didn’t really convince many with their displays.
Speaking on BBC Sportsound on 16 January, former Gers midfielder Derek Ferguson said, “At times, Djiga and Nsiala have been all over the place and against better opposition, Rangers could be two or three goals behind.”
Djiga and Nsiala’s performance against a relatively weaker opposition highlights that there are still areas that need strengthening at the Light Blues in the winter transfer window.
Rangers player ratings vs Annan Athletic
Liam Kelly – 6
Max Aarons – 6
Nasser Djiga – 4
Clinton Nsiala – 4
Jayden Meghoma – 7
Joe Rothwell – 7
Kieran Dowell – 8
Danilo – 5
Findlay Curtis – 9
Djedi Gassama – 6
Bojan Miovski – 10
Miovski deserves special mention for his first-ever hat-trick, scoring his third from the spot after Matondo won the penalty.
Substitutes:
Rabbi Matondo – 6
Zebedee Lawson – 5
Thelo Aasgaard – 8
Tochi Chukwuani – 5
Mikey Moore – 5
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