Some digging ahead of Rangers’ weekend clash with Ross County has unearthed a concerning Alfredo Morelos stat which highlights the extent of the striker’s Ibrox goalscoring drop off.
Morelos’ role within the team has evolved slightly this season, with the Colombian international doing more work outside of the box, linking up play and dragging defenders out of position to create opportunities for teammates.
Changes to UEFA competitions brought about by Covid-19 have also ensured that the Gers have played fewer matches this season, with Europa League qualifiers reduced from two legs to single-leg knockouts.
Yet, El Bufalo is still the first choice no.9 at Ibrox and he’s only missed two games due to suspension, while he hasn’t had an injury issue to speak of.
Therefore, there’s little in the way of further mitigating circumstances for his poor returns in front of goal, particularly at Ibrox.
By this point in the 2019/20 campaign, Morelos has netted 16 times at home in all competitions. So far this season, he has just three goals.
His only Premiership strikes at Ibrox to date both came in a 3-0 win over St Mirren in August, while his only other success on home turf was a header in a Europa League group stage contest against Lech Poznan in October.
Those would be disappointing returns for any striker, never mind a player who wreaked havoc at Ibrox against established European teams like Porto and Feyenoord last season.
In recent times, there have been signs that Rangers’ talisman is beginning to get his mojo back.
His finish in December’s win at St Mirren was clinical, while both his goals at Pittodrie earlier this month were straight out of the top drawer.
What’s needed now is a return to form in Govan for a player Gerrard has identified as key to the Gers’ hopes during the Premiership run-in [Glasgow Times].
Ross County will travel to Ibrox full of confidence on Saturday following a 4-1 win over Aberdeen last weekend, but an Ibrox transfer clause will ensure the Staggies are understrength for the game.
