THIS was an occasion where the result was the only thing that really mattered to Rangers. In that regard, it was very much job done for Steven Gerrard.
Rangers are off and running in the Europa League once again as another qualifier was taken care of with minimal fuss. In unique settings under The Rock, it was a relatively low key 90 minutes, but that will matter little to Gerrard as Lincoln Red Imps were easily dispatched and the 5-0 scoreline reflected the gulf in class between the sides.
The ninth qualification tie of Gerrard’s tenure was up there with the most straightforward and the game and a place in the third round was secured as soon as James Tavernier opened the scoring midway through the first half. When Connor Goldson doubled the advantage on the stroke of half-time, even the most optimistic of Imps hopefuls would have admitted that history wasn’t going to repeat itself.
The build-up had centred on memories of events four years ago as Lee Casciaro’s goal beat Celtic in the Champions League. A sequel to the ‘Shock of Gibraltar’ was never on the cards.
Roy Chipolina would come close to reducing their arrears, but Allan McGregor made a point-blank save. Within seconds, Alfredo Morelos had extended Rangers’ advantage and the closing stages were a matter of game management for Gerrard’s side as they netted twice more on a straightforward evening.
A meeting with Willem II next week will certainly pose a far different and far more difficult challenge for Rangers but Gerrard’s side have shown how adept they are at moving through the gears as they progress through the rounds over the last two seasons.
The first outing in the competition, like it was against Shkupi first time out and St Joseph’s here last term, is all about avoiding an unwanted place in the history books and while there are areas of the performance that will frustrate Gerrard, he cannot grumble with a comfortable victory. On a pitch that was as conducive to flowing football as the runway that runs alongside the Victoria Stadium, Rangers just had to avoid an upset.
Gerrard insisted in the aftermath of the win over Dundee United at the weekend that his side had not yet been relentless this season and that criticism can be directed at them here. It was pedestrian at times from Rangers, but given the limited opposition there was no need for a changed line-up to hit top gear and the only negative was the injury that forced Kemar Roofe off late in the first half.
The minutes for the likes of McGregor and George Edmundson, even given how little they were worked, will be invaluable as they came into the side. There is more to come from Cedric Itten as he gets up to speed and more has to be expected from Greg Stewart.
It was two of Gerrard’s most reliable and trusted performers that took this game away from the Imps in the first half and ensured that the second period was a matter of how many Rangers would win by.
The free-kick from Tavernier was superb as he fired the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box. Three goals in three games is the kind of return the right-back made his name on at Ibrox and there are signs that he is getting back to his best for Rangers.
When it comes to Goldson, he seems to have raised his levels once again. The Englishman has cruised through the opening weeks of the campaign domestically as Rangers have set a new clean sheet record and he would have an impact at the other end of the park here as a header from Borna Barisic’s free-kick was powered home from six yards.
The Croatian had a hand in the third goal, too. Stewart would nod Barisic's cross into the corridor between defence and goalkeeper and Morelos was in the right place at the right time to convert from close range.
His first goals since netting twice in the win over St Mirren in early August were certainly a positive step for Morelos. His second to round off the scoring late on was even better as he dinked the ball over the onrushing Soler from the edge of the box.
It was Jermain Defoe, who had replaced the hard-working but unfortunate Itten, that got the assist. By that time, he had also scored the kind of goal that his typical of him as he swivelled in the area and finished well.
The score line had a shine that Rangers didn’t need but one that they certainly merited. Once again, it is onwards and upwards in Europe.
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