Rangers came from behind to beat Kilmarnock in what was a far cry from the dismal defeat to St Mirren only a week previously.
After a painfully slow start, the Ibrox outfit finally remembered what they were supposed to be doing and dominated the last hour of the game.
The change in fortunes was thinks in no small part to new Rangers manager Barry Ferguson tweaking the team’s tactics with a moment caught on camera that showed just how much it meant to him.
Barry Ferguson loved Mohamed Diomande moment of magic
A shift to a 4-3-3 formation saw Rangers first gain a foothold then gain control on a game that had threatened to run away from them with one player in particular going from anonymous to influential.
With more help and less space to cover defensively, Mohamed Diomande was able to get on the ball and start playing forward passes – two of which ended with goals.
The second, for Rangers fourth of an eventful night, saw Diomande earn the praise of his manager, someone who wasn’t a bad passer of the ball himself.
“That’s my boy, love that,” said Ferguson to Diomande after the 23-year old had broken through Kilmarnock’s midfield before perfectly timing his pass to Nedim Bajrami.
Can Ferguson get the best out of Diomande?
Under Philippe Clement, Diomande showed flashes of what he is capable of, usually in Europa League games playing as a more advanced midfielder.
What was noticeable in those games, is that he would have two other players to support him in Nicolas Raskin and Connor Barron, similar to the sort of shape that Ferguson deployed against Kilmarnock.
With less space to cover, Diomande is instantly more effective in possession and can play without fear of being caught out of position.
It also allows him to play to his strengths as a creative midfielder and positive passer.
If there is anyone that he should be able to learn under, it’s Barry Ferguson.
