Rangers have kept four clean sheets in competitive matches so far this season.
Rangers manager Mark Warburton celebrates at the end of the match
Rangers boss Mark Warburton says much of his side’s pre-season training work has gone on the defensive side as the club look to maintain their excellent early clean sheet record, the Evening Times reports.
The Gers won promotion to the Scottish Premiership last season, yet on course to winning the Championship they conceded 34 goals in 36 matches – seven in their last four league games of the season.
Warburton has seemingly been keen to strengthen his side’s defensive ranks this summer, adding to the squad and working on organisation and shape in pre-season.
It seems to have done the trick thus far as the Ibrox club have four League Cup victories to their name, but arguably just as important for Warburton, four clean sheets in the process.
“We’ve dominated games of football, we’ve played four and kept four clean sheets,” the Rangers boss told the Evening Times.
“There’s been no real questions asked defensively and that’s difficult for the goalkeepers. We put Wes (Foderingham) in for two and Matt (Gilks) in for two — they haven’t had much to do and that’s testament to the good work of the team.”
“Much of our work in pre-season has been on the defensive side as well as improving offensively.”
For Rangers to challenge Celtic for the Scottish Premiership title this season, their defensive organisation and shape out of possession will be just as important as their attacking abilities.
Warburton’s men have a wealth of attacking talent at their disposal, and adding a solid foundation behind that will no doubt prove to be the key to success over the next 12 months.
Rangers host Burnley on Saturday looking for another positive display, before kicking off their league campaign the following Saturday at home to Hamilton Academical.
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