It’s no secret that Rangers have struggled for goals recently.
Ahead of their trip to St Johnstone last Sunday, they had only netted once from open play in their previous seven matches.
One of the major factors behind that lack of goals, is the absence of a quality attacking midfielder.
Scott Arfield served a suspension and then withdrew injured at half-time at Easter Road, shortly after returning. An able deputy in the CAM role could have been Ryan Kent.
However, successive hamstring problems have limited him to just one appearance since the beginning of November.
With resources stretched thin, Lassana Coulibaly has found himself asked to play in that advanced central role.
It hasn’t gone well.
Even before the positional adjustment, the midfielder looked a shadow of the player who arrived at Rangers in the summer.
Of late, things have went even further downhill and his performances have drawn the ire of the supporters.
His shortcomings don’t appear to be down to a lack of effort. It’s more a total lack of confidence and an overall shortage of quality.
He is powerful, no doubt. Yet, any time he makes a mini break or looks to hold the ball up, a clumsy touch lets him down.
Moves lose momentum at his feet and his shooting doesn’t pose a threat.
Despite featuring in an advanced role in the last three matches, he hasn’t come close to adding to his two Rangers goals.
If he is to line up in the same role tomorrow, Celtic won’t be worried in the slightest.
Rangers simply need more quality in the final third than what Coulibaly can offer.
