Manager Graeme Murty has described Rangers’ clash against Hamilton Academical as being akin to a ‘game of basketball’ with the way the match ebbed and flowed.
Heading to New Douglas Park for the clash last weekend, Rangers found themselves behind after only five minutes of the game but Jamie Murphy had us level on the ten minute mark. Josh Windass then gave us the advantage just ahead of the 20 minute mark, but Hamilton levelled themselves three minutes later, so it was over to Alfredo Morelos to give us the advantage just ahead of the half hour. Windass grabbed a second in the 34th minute and then completed his hattrick with just under 20 minutes remaining in the tie, but there was a further goal to deal with, a penalty for the hosts two minutes from time.
A five three win was not what Murty had planned for the game and speaking to the Official Site he wasn’t entirely pleased given a ‘crazy first half’ as even entering the break at four two in our favour, he knew we could’ve scored more and conceded more in the opening 45.
‘I think the neutral might have enjoyed it, but I thought the first half was too much like a game of basketball for me, albeit I am pleased we scored five goals. It underlines the attacking threat we have, but, I thought that our slackness in possession at times contributed to as many problems as chances it created, and we need to get that nailed down and get that sorted.’
Promising that issues that arose from the game would be eradicated on the training pitch, Murty went on to say.
‘We can`t have our good attacking work undone like that, and I thought it was too frantic at times. But, when we do sort that out, we do have goals in the team and we can be a threat. I just look at us, and we are on the cusp of being really, really good. But, we do loads of good work and then undo it and put ourselves under pressure with a bit of slackness. It`s not just any one player – it`s being spread across the team, and we just have to make sure that we have a professionalism that doesn`t allow that to creep into our game.’
He added.
‘If it doesn`t, then we put ourselves in a good position to push on up the league. But, that should have been and could have been a lot more controlled. I thought for 35 minutes of the second half, we were in control, but low and behold, we play ourselves back into trouble again. We gave the ball away slackly again and we have too many people up the pitch again, and that can`t continue to happen. That is for me to sort out, and I will.’
There were however greater positives from our second half showing, but he wasn’t pleased with how the game ended as we set up a more nervy end than was needed conceding the penalty.
‘We need to get the blend right. We need to get that attacking threat where we are happy to go and score goals, and we carry goals in this team. I said at half time, the front four are winning the game, so let`s play from a better structure. I thought Greg Docherty was far better in the second half, but he needs to tidy up with the ball. And, low and behold, we get five goals, we get carried away and think we will just keep going and attack from anywhere.’
Adding.
‘With five minutes to go, I have nearly eight people in their half attacking, and it`s not on. It`s not professional, it`s not respectful to our opponent and it`s not the way I will operate. But, we will get it right, this is still a work in progress and still a team that has a long way to go yet, and for waymarkers along the path, it`s not a bad one for us to actually take the good from it and take the things where I know we can get better. I`ve got to say, for as disappointed as I am, there was lots of good stuff, and when I am a bit calmer I will be quite happy with.’
