Mark Hateley lauded Rangers on BBC Sportsound (25/11, 21:54) for showing fight in their Europa League win over Sparta Prague, days after Connor Goldson said they lacked it.
The Gers beat the Czech side 2-0 at Ibrox to seal the Premiership giant’s place in the next phase. They will contest a two-leg play-off with a team that exits the Champions League.
Alfredo Morelos provided both goals to hand new Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst a win on debut. The Colombian side-footed home his first after 15-minutes, before seizing on poor defending once again and heading in Filip Panak’s failed clearance turned cross.
Van Bronckhorst would have enjoyed watching his new side secure a comfortable win after replacing Steven Gerrard at the helm. Especially after they lost to Hibs in the League Cup.
Hibernian dumped Rangers out of the competition in the semi-final on Sunday for the Gers’ first loss in nine. After which, Goldson made the bold claim: ‘We’ve lost a bit of hunger’.
Goldson hinted some in the Rangers squad had taken their foot off the gas after lifting last season’s Premiership title. But the Gers impressed Hateley with their fight on Thursday.
“There was a fight from Rangers tonight, they put their foot in,” Hateley said. “Something they haven’t done for a while.”
Van Bronckhorst inspires instant reaction from Rangers in Sparta Prague win
Hateley’s comments would suggest Van Bronckhorst inspired an instant reaction from the Rangers squad against Sparta Prague, after Goldson’s bold claim after losing to Hibernian.
But Van Bronckhorst will need to ensure Rangers reach those levels consistently during his tenure. He cannot afford to let complacency creep in, as Goldson suggested was the case.
Rangers’ trip to Livingston on Sunday will be a test of whether or not Van Bronckhorst can maintain those levels. Livi have only taken 13 points from 13 Premiership games so far this season, to sit just four-points from bottom.
A potential banana skin, then, for leaders Rangers, who have 30 points to their name.
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