Rangers 3 Clyde 0 SFL D3 Dec 12

It was bitterly cold yesterday as Rangers played Clyde at Ibrox

An impressive 47.5K crowd taking their seats

Before kick off we got treated to a cracking visual display from the Blue Order in the Govan Stand

Celebrating 10 years of support they have given to the club

The weather might have got to the Rangers players though

Their start was as poor as I have witnessed this season

The team had lined up in familiar shape

The only change from Saturday’s match at Elgin City

– Ross Perry replacing Greek injury victim Anestis Argyriou

Big Jig did come close with a lovely turn and rasping shot

Keeper Barclay did well though by turning his effort over his bar

From the subsequent corner

Cribari was unlucky not to score with a snap shot again saved well by the Clyde keeper

Rangers were now taking more control of the match

Mckay constantly looking to thread passes in to his fellow forwards

Templeton too seemed to be everywhere

Always looking for openings and shots at goal

It was a wee bit of brilliance from him that gave Gers the lead

Lee Wallace played the ball into Templeton’s feet 35 yards from goal

Surrounded by Clyde players Templeton looked to be well marked

Out of nothing he plays a cheeky over head kick

Takes the Clyde team by surprise

The on running Wallace is now through in goal

The full back’s  finish is clinical

1 – nil Rangers 20 minutes on the clock

A few minutes later and Andy Little had to leave the park

Reports after the game suggest it was precautionary

Nevertheless, it gave Dean Shiels a chance to get back into the fray

The team’s momentum not disturbed by the enforced change

Shiels going into the false no 9

Templeton shifting from there and out to the right wing

Mid way through the half

Hutton was unlucky not score

His Jorg Albertz like shot whistling past the post

Before half time Templeton had bamboozled Clyde defenders with a 2nd piece of genius

This time, after dribbling past various tackles

He curled a truly superb shot into the keeper’s left hand side of the goal

2 – nil Rangers

It should have been 3 – 0 moments later when big Jig finished a neat move

Only for a late (and in my view incorrect) flag from Govan side linesman

The second half was more of the same

Good periods of interchanged passing by Rangers

Mixed with a general command of the game

Chances were limited but Rangers seemed comfortable within themselves

Clyde were rarely threatening so no danger of losing a goal

And an unnecessary nervy finish to the match

It was not until 15 minutes to go that the Gers supremacy did lead to a third goal

This time Mckay was the inspiration

Cutting in from the right hand side he played a lovely pass into the feet of Dean Shiels

The Northern Irishman

Who was getting some rough treatment from Clyde defenders

Turned superbly

And fired a low shot into the bottom corner of keeper Barclay’s net

Ranger 3 Clyde nil

Before the end Rangers had given Darren Cole and Robbie Crawford a runout

It was a good victory

Sees the Gers extend their lead at top of the table to 12 points

And a clean sheet for the goalie and defence

Alexander making one fine stop near the end after slackness had crept in to Rangers play

One criticism I would make is the keeper’s distribution

Why the constant need to punt it up the park (often out of play)

Can we not look to retain possession with playing the ball out from the back?

Certainly with Mckay, Shiels and Templeton in the team

The need for long ball football we were experiencing earlier in season has gone

Mckay had a quieter game

Yet he remained a constant threat

When he drifts inside and looks to pass the ball into the box

It is clear he has great vision that needs to be exploited

Shiels touch was clearly off during this game – expected given the lay off he has experienced because of injury

Still he manages to score a fine goal

I also thought Cribari had his best game in this match

While Hegarty looks like a Lee Wallace in the making

Perry still concerns me and I think if Rangers need to strengthen

Central defence is the most critical area

Young Lewis Macleod was actually my man of the match

Sponsors gave it to Templeton

Can understand why given the beauty of his play

However, MacLeod covers every blade of grass and never hides

Always looking for the ball in tight areas he is a credit to the club’s academy

More of him please

£10m transfer pot – who needs it just now?

With other youngsters coming through the system let’s box clever on this please

As we enter the new year Rangers are in good shape

It is thoroughly enjoyable going to watch them

Next stop is Queens Park at Hampden on Saturday

The amateurs probably going to end up as our biggest challengers to silver ware

So a victory is essential

Keep the momentum going

And of course there is also the small matter

of playing in front

of what will probably be the biggest away support to play this season

not only in Scotland

but across the globe

Truly remarkable

Rangers 3 Clyde 0 (Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow) 26th December 2012

RANGERS: Alexander; Hegarty, Perry, Cribari (Cole 78), Wallace; Little (Shiels 25), Hutton, Macleod, McKay; Templeton (Crawford 83); McCulloch.
SUBS: Currie, Sandaza.
GOALS: Wallace 20, Templeton 38, Shiels 76.
CLYDE: Barclay, Kane, Brown, Gray, Lamie, Hay (Neil 81), Fitzharris (Sweeney 72), Scullion, Watt, Gilfillan (McLuskey 86), McColm.
SUBS: Rajovic, Oliver.
REFEREE: Crawford Allan.
ATTENDANCE: 47,463.