The significance of Rangers’ win against Aberdeen last night, was huge.
Before the game, Steven Gerrard’s men had started to recover from a damaging defeat at Kilmarnock, with three straight wins and two consecutive SPL clean sheets.
However, despite the scoreline, the performance wasn’t quite right back on Saturday, against St Mirren.
The manager had trialled the diamond in midfield once more, with two up front.
Jermain Defoe was a major coup in the January window, so obviously, the coaching staff will look for opportunities to play him.
Yet, while he has made a positive start, he hasn’t walked into a guaranteed starting spot.
Candeias still a key man
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He dropped out of the side to take on the Dons at Pittodrie, with Daniel Candeias taking his place.
The decision showed the stock the Portuguese is still held in at Rangers.
The club’s January business hasn’t changed the fact that the winger is a go to man on the big occasion.
He offers natural width to the team, a sky-high work rate and a reasonable goal threat in the final third.
Plucked from Benfica at in the summer of 2017, the 30-year-old is one of the few positives from the tumultuous reign of Pedro Caixinha.
On Wednesday night, he was his usual industrious self.
Ultimately, he would give way for Defoe, who sealed the points in the final stages.
Yet, there’s no coincidence that in reverting back to type in terms of the formation and the inclusion of Candeias, Rangers put in an improved overall display.
