THAT MONDAY MORNING FEELING
Two weeks after leaving East End Park in something of a trance, it was good to be able to head off for a few pints with a smile on the face. It was hardly Champions League winning stuff but, for the first time in a long time, Rangers stuttered through a game and weren't punished for it. As I see it, we were focused more on getting the job done, rather than getting ourselves all tied up in knots by playing too much football in the wrong areas, and followed last week's impressive show with a reasonably competent performance.
When Charlie Adam fired us into an early lead, it looked like we were on easy street but, as has so often been the way, we didn't press home our advantage and had a bit of a sweat in the closing stages. But it is perhaps an indication that our luck is turning that we didn't let it slip and survived that late melee in our box. Not so long ago, you could've bet your life on Dunfermline snatching a point and we would be lamenting another sad afternoon.
And we all had a wee giggle when we heard Steven Kenny greeting about Dunfermline not getting penalties. No doubt, he is taking a leaf out of Gordon The Garden Gnome's book. After all, no sooner had that wee shite had a whinge about Septic not getting pens than refs were falling over themselves to point to the spot. I'll be monitoring Dunfermline's penalty count over the next couple of weeks.
So it is two wins under the new regime, two clean sheets, and in our own wee private post-PLG league table, we are just ahead of Ra Sellick on goal difference. This is the only way to measure our progress, or otherwise, as Walter sets about pulling things together. Next weekend will see the new manager face his first serious test when the Jambos come calling but, having already beaten them twice, we must surely go into this game in a positive frame of mind.
David Weir's presence at the back was significant at Dunfermline and certainly augured well for the future. Without actually doing too much apart from win a few challenges - it's clear evidence of the mess we are in that we roared as if winning a 50-50 is something new! – he seemed to exert a calming influence on those around him, especially Karl Svensson, and although Crawford and Hamilton were a real handful, they didn't give Allan McGregor too much to worry about.
I've always preferred Brahim Hemdani to be in front of the back four and I'm sure our midfield will benefit from him filling the holding role. Barry looks capable of strolling through games and, while he was hardly at his best on Sunday, our hopes of creating something were better when he had the ball. And with Nacho going through a power of work up front, the wee man was a willing target for Barry's passes.
It was not Boydie's most productive afternoon and there were those around me who wanted to see him subbed. I wouldn't have complained if he was but he is always a threat in front of goal and came close on a couple of occasions late in the game. Kris plays the percentage game, never afraid to miss because he believes another chance will come along soon enough. Hopefully, Super Ally will be having more than the occasional word in his lug to make sure he makes more of his goal efforts count.
It was not Boydie's most productive afternoon and there were those around me who wanted to see him subbed. I wouldn't have complained if he was but he is always a threat in front of goal and came close on a couple of occasions late in the game. Kris plays the percentage game, never afraid to miss because he believes another chance will come along soon enough. Hopefully, Super Ally will be having more than the occasional word in his lug to make sure he makes more of his goal efforts count.
Another week of the Walter Smith and Super Ally influence on the team should be interesting on Saturday. And with the possibility of another new face or two in the side, I'm beginning to look forward to the fitba again. For a wee while towards the turn of the year, I was approaching weekends apprehensively, watching us supposedly turn corners, only to end up in a cul-de-sac, but the new management team has lifted me out of that mindset and got me upbeat again.
There is no quick fix to our problems. Hindered by Mr Chairman's reluctance to invest real money in Rangers, Walter Smith has to make do as best he can but, having worked with limited resources at Scotland, yet achieved a reasonable level of success, I'm confident he can steer our club back in the right direction. There have been signs, admittedly small, that we are beginning to make progress.
LITTLE BOY BLUE