RANGERS rounded off their pre-season with victory in what was a very useful and different test against Championship opponents, Coventry City at Ibrox this evening.
Dominant throughout, Gers look fit and raring to go against Aberdeen in a week’s time having played four pre-season games against clubs from France, Scotland and England, scoring 10 goals and conceding none in the process.
From the side which defeated Motherwell and played some impressive stuff here in Govan on Wednesday night, boss Steven Gerrard named just one change – Allan McGregor coming back in between the sticks in place of Jon McLaughlin.
The Light Blues started extremely well, showing yet more high-energy play with total dominance of the ball in and around the Coventry box.
That led to the opening opportunity of the game, with Borna Barisic delivering a super ball for Ianis Hagi – but his goal-bound shot was blocked by sky blue-shirted Declan Drysdale.
Alfredo Morelos then started and almost finished a super move. Picking up the ball in midfield after dropping deep, he sprayed the ball right to James Tavernier, sprinted just into the box and received a deep cross from the skipper.
Joe Aribo did superbly to rob Josh Pask wide left in midfield of the ball and feed Morelos, who was on the edge of the area, but Liam Kelly charged down his shot before the ball broke out for Ryan Jack – his curling effort being turned away by Drysdale.
Morelos then almost turned in a Barisic cross to the back post with his head as half-time approached, while at the other end, Matt Godden was denied a goal on the slide by the assistant referee’s flag.
Gers remained unchanged at the start of the second half, and they took the lead within five minutes of the restart.
Joe Aribo played a super one-two with Morelos before gliding into the area, but before any of the three Coventry players around him could get a tackle in, he’d finished beautifully into the bottom-left corner.
It was a deserved lead for Gers given their dominance, and they could have made it 2-0 soon after, Morelos being denied inside the area by a desperate Drysdale block.
Barisic then found his opposite full-back Tavernier at the back post with a super ball, but he headed wide, while Ryan Kent was denied by a fine save from goalkeeper Ben Wilson.
Wilson then made an even better save on a close-range Hagi shot from more good Kent work before goal number two did arrive on 67 minutes.
Aribo was fouled out on the right wing, with James Tavernier stepping up to take the free-kick. His delivery was outstanding, and straight onto the head of Connor Goldson to bullet a header beyond Wilson and into the back of the net.
Ianis Hagi had a cheeky effort from inside his own half which only just slipped by the post, but Gers saw the game out with relative comfort for yet another clean sheet.
So it’s on then to Pittodrie, and the opening match of the 2020/21 Scottish Premiership season.
RANGERS: McGregor, Tavernier (Patterson, 72), Edmundson (Helander, 61), Goldson, Hagi (Barjonas, 82), Jack (Arfield, 61), Kent (Murphy, 82), Aribo (Stewart, 82), Kamara (McCrorie, 85), Morelos (Barker, 61) Barisic (Bassey, 82)
SUBS NOT USED: McLaughlin, McPake.