In Rangers win over Livingston on Saturday, it was definitely a case of better late than never with the second half rally securing three points on the opening day of the Premiership season.
It was captain marvel James Tavernier with a beauty of a free-kick to give the Gers the lead but post-match he revealed some sound advice given to him in the build up to his strike from his trusted lieutenant Connor Goldson.
Following Scott Arfield’s clever leveller, Rangers were finally firing and the set-piece provided the opportunity from which Tavernier took full advantage. He was assisted by that man Goldson as told to Sky Sports:
“Borna (Barisic) tried the same side because the keeper gambled a little bit (positioning). Connor came up to me and just said ‘do the same’ so I placed it and I’m delighted it went in.”
He placed it alright, it was a superb strike with power and precision.
©️ "We showed great character. This will make us stronger."
Matchwinner James Tavernier reflects on Rangers' 2-1 win at Livingston and talks us through that strike 👇 pic.twitter.com/EbQTXJEPSI
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) July 30, 2022
That brief communication shows how much the players are switched on and what gets picked up during the game, with so much going on amid all the intensity of needing to get a result as well as the noise and passion pouring onto the pitch from the stands.
Rangers were woeful and lethargic in the first half with Livingston’s goalkeeper not having to make a meaningful save but all of that changed in the second half. The visitors seized the initiative from early on and never looked back to secure a merited victory on the balance of the overall encounter.
The slow start can’t be repeated tomorrow night with the fine margins of European football requiring a vibrant early start to the two-leg clash against Union Saint Gilloise of Belgium. As was the case last season, Rangers will be looking to finish the tie off at Ibrox in the second leg but on this occasion, a first leg win in Leuven is well within reach.