Analysis Corner: How Rangers stopped Celtic's attack
By Dougie Wright (@dougie_analysis)
It may have ended all square, but there’s no doubt which of the two sets of supporters left happier after Sunday’s 1-1 derby at Parkhead.
In his final game at the helm, Graeme Murty showed the tactical flexibility lacking in his predecessor and can be proud of the point his side earned. Celtic struggled to break down a Rangers side who defended resolutely, and while Rodgers may complain about a late penalty appeal, he will certainly be asking questions about how his side were thwarted for the first time at home all season.
Celtic set up for this the same way they’ve set up for most games this season. Sinclair, Dembele and Forrest as an attacking trident, with support from Armstrong bursting up the park from midfield, flanked by Kieran Tierney and Mikael Lustig as full backs-come-wingers. In previous derbies this season, Rangers have gone man to man with Sinclair and Dembele. The result has been seven goals conceded to the pair in three games. Today a different tactic was tested:
When Celtic came forwards from set pieces, Rangers would always ensure that Sinclair and Dembele had two sets of eyes on them at all times. Rangers choked the penalty box and made sure that Celtic’s top two attackers were starved of the ball.
In an average match this season, Sinclair and Dembele have had around 6 shots a game between them. On Sunday, Dembele only managed two, Sinclair none.
Now Brendan Rodgers knows fine well that you cannot depend on only two players to score goals. As such, there is always a midfielder driving high up the park to create and take chances. On Sunday, that man was Stuart Armstrong.
The 24-year-old put in a superb performance for his team, passing into the final third ten times, taking five of his side’s seven shots on target and grabbing their goal. Such form gets recognised, and it was no surprise to see Armstrong called up by Gordon Strachan for the upcoming internationals. Armstrong has surely been the best Scottish player in the Premiership this season, and Gordon Strachan will be hoping he can replicate his club form on the international stage.
From a Rangers perspective, the midfield duo of Hyndman and Holt held up well against their more experienced opponents. Holt won the ball back for his side eleven times, more than any other Rangers player, while Hyndman made sure he was on Scott Brown in a flash whenever the Scotland captain got into the final third:
So while Celtic made it into Rangers’ final third twice as much as their opponents (129 to 64), they found themselves faced with an energetic blue wall which smothered any attempt to get the ball into the box. Indeed, just one of Celtic’s shots came in the “danger zone”, the central channel of the penalty box- a scuff from Moussa Dembele under pressure.
There’s only so much you can take from one game. The truth is that Celtic are still unbeaten in the league, have scored nine goals to Rangers’ three in four matches, and are six points away from wrapping up the title in March. However, Rangers fans will have been encouraged with a dogged defensive performance that stemmed the green and white flow for the first time this season.
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