Steven Gerrard’s Rangers hammered Steve Clarke’s Kilmarnock during Wednesday’s Scottish Cup clash at Ibrox.
Considering that Rangers played out dull, goalless draws in their last two matches, Wednesday night’s 5-0 Scottish Cup thrashing of Kilmarnock could hardly have arrived at a better time.
Alfredo Morelos marked his return from suspension with a four-goal haul as Killie were put to the sword at Ibrox, although fans of the Ayrshire club will be keen to point out that the scoreline was only 1-0 when visiting goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann sent off in controversial fashion.
All in all, however, it was a superb night for the Gers – one of their best since Steven Gerrard took over last summer. But it was not all perfect.
While Morelos, Daniel Candeias and Glen Kamara were in superb form in midweek, Borna Barisic looks well short of his best. And not for the first time since he recovered from a long spell out of the team with a calf injury.
The Croatian left-back adds so much balance and attacking presence to Gerrard’s side but he struggled defensively against the veteran Killie winger Chris Burke at Ibrox. He was beaten time and time again by the 35-year-old while he looked short on confidence throughout, giving the ball away on a regular basis.
Barisic will no doubt get back to his best before the end of the season.
But at the moment he is looking like a weak link and he could have been left exposed had Bachmann’s red card not killed the game as a contest.
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