Tomorrow afternoon, Rangers should welcome back a combination not seen since October in the SPL. Not in the starting line-up anyway.
Borna Barisic and James Tavernier. Two attacking full-backs who can finally give the Gers overlap options and quality delivery from both sides of the pitch.
Having conceded 37 goals in their 17 league matches so far this season, Hamilton are hardly frugal at the back.
Yet, Rangers have been short of goals of late. Scoring just once in their last three outings.
The quality of service to the front men needs to drastically improve to bring about a change in fortunes.
Although he did deliver a superb ball for Connor Goldson early in the first half on Thursday, Tav had an off day. He regularly failed to beat the first man, which is unlike him.
Barisic offers additional outlet
Barisic, no doubt hamstrung by the teams tactical plans, had few opportunities to get forward. However, a home match against 10th placed Accies is a very different occasion to a tense away European game.
Now recovered from a calf problem, the Croatian should make his first SPL start since October tomorrow. He brings a quality outlet down the left which will ensure Rangers’ front men are no longer totally reliant on deliveries from the right.
There is a fine line between showing positive intent and overcommitting to attacks, and these two will have to communicate well to be effective.
However, the Gers have sorely missed this combination. If both are on song, the forwards could have a field day, as Rangers look to get back to both scoring and winning ways at Ibrox.
