Despite the injury doubts in the week leading up to the Viaplay Cup Final, Michael Beale reverted to what he knew for his team selection.
The Rangers boss picked the same starting XI that played out a 2-2 draw with Celtic at Ibrox back in January, a game they should and would have won but for a late Kyogo equaliser. The Japanese star also had the final say at Hampden on Sunday, but he’d put the game beyond Beale’s men before they could land a blow this time. His double saw the Hoops retain the trophy they won last year and sent Beale back to the drawing board.
Malik Tillman’s involvement was far from certain after missing the win over Livingston the week before. John Lundstram’s even more so, having not featured since limping off after 11 minutes against Ross County three weeks ago. Both started, with the latter being pitched in from the start alongside Glen Kamara in midfield.
It didn’t work. Both struggled to make any sort of impact, and the decision to start both of them was further scrutinised after new signing Nicolas Raskin was introduced on 65 minutes, along with fellow January recruit Todd Cantwell.
Beale's insistence during the transfer window was that he was only interested in signing starters; players who would come in and improve the starting XI rather than simply beef up his squad. Why then, for the biggest game of Rangers’ season so far and his managerial career, were both left kicking their heels on the sizable Hampden bench?
Tillman’s selection over Cantwell was perhaps more understandable. The American has walked the walk while others have talked in recent weeks, and the feeling was that if he was fit enough to get on the pitch, he’d start. That proved to be the case and with Cantwell still getting up to speed, it would have been more of a surprise had the roles been reversed given Tillman’s availability.
It’s much easier to say in hindsight, but Lundstram’s inclusion ahead of Raskin was a puzzler. The Scouser does offer a physical presence and experience in Old Firm clashes. But to throw him in after three weeks on the sidelines and expect him to dominate the Hoops’ high energy engine room trio was asking a lot.
A minute after Alfredo Morelos pulled one back, both Raskin and Cantwell were introduced with the chase well and truly on. In those circumstances, you'd expect Rangers to have more of the ball with Celtic trying to keep what they had while hitting on the break as their opponents committed men forward.
Indeed, they should have scored more than once to finish the game. Sead Haksabanovic was denied by Allan McGregor before Matt O'Riley tried to give him the eyes in stoppage time and was foiled as well.
But Raskin brought an extra bit of bite and sharpness to Gers' midfield. He was quicker to second balls, sharp with his passing and kept the forward momentum going. That those ahead of him couldn't make it count was the issue. Fellow sub Antonio Colak let the ball slip below his foot with just Joe Hart to beat in the box, then Borna Barisic behind him did the same when the opportunity was still salvageable.
Calls for Raskin to add to his one start for his new club so far will only get louder. But the argument is that Beale maybe should have listened to them before Sunday.
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