Rangers 4 Dundee United 2
Being classed as the most improved side in the Premiership across the guts of a season is certainly a welcome accolade. Unless it manifests itself in a league winner’s medal in the final reckoning, though, it’s ultimately meaningless.
As another trip to Falkirk beckons for Rangers, the shift in the team’s fortunes since it last alighted at the home of the top-flight new boys is marked. By the end of that October day, Russell Martin was being led out of the stadium by a couple of burly security guards with a sit-down protest preventing the team bus from leaving.
Another costly draw, a fifth in seven matches, saw Rangers languishing in eighth place in the table with just one win to their name.
Aasgaard celebrates after scoring Rangers’ third goal in Saturday’s win over Dundee United
Although Martin was soon put out of his misery, there was more pain for supporters to endure with the gap to Hearts extending from 11 points to 13 by the time Danny Rohl took over.
To have clawed that back and reached the summit of the Premiership on Saturday evening after beating Dundee United was quite a feat in itself.
Rohl, naturally, would rather wait until the season is over to receive any pats on the back. He knows this job is a long way from being done.
While Martin’s reputation was irredeemable after that dismal effort away to John McGlynn’s men, the same could never be said for the players the German inherited.
Ryan Naderi capitalises on Ashley Maynard Brewer’s mistake to open the scoring
In the season in which the plot already has had more twists than a slinky factory, there’s still scope for some individuals to redeem themselves by stepping up and taking their side over the line.
Thelo Aasgaard certainly needed the narrative around him to change dramatically after his early outings in a Rangers jersey.
A £3.5m signing from Luton, it’s fair to say that the Norwegian did not hit the ground running.
He got the final few minutes of that draw against the Bairns and made no appreciable impact. The same might be said of each one of his 10 previous appearances.
Whatever it was that Martin was attempting to do, Aasgaard looked confused and demoralised by it.
On the evidence of his display against Jim Goodwin’s men, it should be a different player entirely who the Bairns face on Sunday.
Dujon Sterling leaps for joy after scoring Rangers’ second goal at Ibrox on Saturday
Selected ahead of Mohamed Diomande for the second successive match, Aasgaard repaid Rohl’s faith with a show imbued with skill and authority until the moment when his legs could give no more.
In terms of Rangers’ burgeoning title chances, it’s better that the player the fans thought they were getting has arrived late than not at all. He might just make the difference across the next six matches.
This was a peculiar game for Rohl and his backroom staff to dissect. Rangers scored four and may have notched more. They were deserving of the victory.
Yet only the most blinkered supporter would not have been troubled by some of the stuff they witnessed when the play was flowing towards Jack Butland’s goal.
This frequently saw United ride tackles and outnumber their opponents on the counterattack.
Rohl would be thankful that the Tannadice men so often lost all composure when it came to delivering the final ball.
A better side than the Tangerines could have had a field day. The league table suggests Rangers will face half a dozen of those in short order.
It’s frankly inconceivable that they will win all their remaining games if they cough up so many opportunities as they did at the weekend. Rohl was asked at full-time about the need for a more cynical approach in certain moments and he did not exactly disagree.
Jayden Meghoma should take note. With Tuur Rommens expected to be missing for another two games, the Englishman should prolong his stay at left-back. Far too often, he was easily beaten.
Rohl was diplomatic when asked about the form and future of Andreas Skov Olsen. Privately, he must be losing patience with the winger.
The much-heralded Dane again offered very little for 45 minutes. His replacement, Djeidi Gassama, was a blur of activity and invention. His quick feet set up Aasgaard for Rangers’ third.
Bojan Miovski is hailed by Youssef Chermiti after scoring Rangers’ fourth goal at Ibrox
While a quiet day for Mikey Moore was forgivable given his recent form, Rohl will also be concerned at the unspecified injury which prevented Ryan Naderi from reappearing for the second half.
The German got the show on the road with a fine finish on the half hour and got through a power of work. Youssef Chermiti’s glaring miss after replacing him was typical of a player who oddly has struggled to score against the league’s lesser lights while battering the title challengers.
With both sides desperate for a win for different reasons, it always had the makings of a high-scoring, error-strewn affair. It did not disappoint.
For all Goodwin would acknowledge by time up that his side didn’t deserve to take anything, he’d have spent the remainder of the weekend reflecting on the defining moments which proved their undoing.
Before Naderi put the home side in front, Max Watters sclaffed a shot from six yards after Neil Farrugia had burrowed in behind.
Farrugia was equally inept in front of goal when he tried to cut the ball back for a tap-in following superb play by Luca Stephenson.
Thelo Aasgaard has a shot on goal during a bright performance for Rangers
Only a dreadful pass to Stephenson from Farrugia prevented United from cutting their opponents wide open again with the scoreline still blank. Quite why Nico Raskin was arguing with referee John Beaton at that point over an earlier decision, only he could explain.
The opener was a disaster for United keeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer. Aasgaard’s strike from the edge of the box either had to be caught or palmed around the post. Instead, the goalie parried it into the air. Naderi calmly volleyed home.
Collectively asleep while defending a throw-in, United then watched Naderi tee up Aasgaard to cross. Skov Olsen’s header was nudged towards goal by Dujon Sterling. Despite a touch from Iurie Iovu, it was the Englishman’s goal.
Danny Rohl would have been concerned by Rangers’ defending during the 4-2 victory
At that stage, two-nil flattered Rangers. The excellent Amar Fatah ensured the deficit would only be a single goal at the break when he slid the ball home after the Rangers’ defence had refused to engage with him.
Rohl got a little breathing again space shortly after the re-start when Aasgaard deftly turned Gassama’s low cross home only for United to hit back again when Zac Sapsford slid in to bury Stephenson’s centre.
A pivotal minute of the match and perhaps the season arrived with five minutes remaining.
With the home fans increasingly tense, Iovu’s dipping header clipped the post. Within seconds, Rangers raced away to the other end where Bojan Miovski brilliantly slammed home the clincher.
It felt like a big win. Rohl’s men have come a long way since he took the reins, but the plaudits will mean nothing next month if they aren’t standing on the winner’s podium.
