from the G Herald

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Rangers are on target but off formDARRYL BROADFOOT, Chief Football Writer January 17 2008

GOAL RUSH: Barry Ferguson's adept volleyed finish established a first-half advantage

RANGERS last night increased their advantage over Celtic in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League to four points. The manner of victory against Gretna at Fir Park, though, was a compelling advert for the return of the winter shutdown.

This was a tale of two target men. Kenny Deuchar was summoned from a loan spell at St Johnstone to rescue Gretna's critical condition. He has no intention of hanging around beyond the summer but, in the meantime, his labours almost earned the hosts a valuable point against Rangers and certainly left David Weir feeling each of his 37 years.

Then there is Daniel Cousin, a player who told the official club publication: "If a better offer comes in, I will have to look at it". Of late, he has been as industrious as the Writers' Guild of America. His enduring presence evoked consternation among the fans when Walter Smith instead opted to sacrifice Steven Naismith for Jean-Claude Darcheville with the scoreline delicately poised.

Alas, Cousin has developed a habit of redeeming himself with a vital goal here and there and capped a truly passive performance with a goal of immeasurable importance to quell Gretna's bold and unforeseen threat. Even more curiously, Cousin came to life upon the introduction of Darcheville, a fact that adds to the intrigue surrounding this enigmatic player.

advertisementHis agent, Willie McKay, has cultivated interest from Fulham. Cousin already appears preoccupied by shopping trips to Harrods but Smith remains supportive of an unashamed malcontent. The manager's faith was vindicated last night, but not before enduring an uncomfortable evening beside Martin Bain and John Greig.

Deuchar won almost every aerial joust with Weir and in Fabian Yantorno found a willing ally. Gavin Skelton almost slewed home a late equaliser that may not have been justified in terms of possession but would not have been grudged on sheer guts and determination. They remain hopelessly adrift in the Premier League, 11 points adrift of Hearts. Rangers missed the thrust of Alan Hutton and power of Lee McCulloch, both suspended, but few of Smith's regulars could summon their form of late 2007.

In mitigation, they have spent the majority of January in cold storage. Two cancellations through adverse weather have interrupted the club's flow at considerable inconvenience. It explained but did not excuse, for example, Steven Whittaker's acute discomfort at right-back and Charlie Adam's inability to find a team-mate.

Gretna, by comparison, rose above their familiar toil and, goals apart, defended robustly and competed doggedly in midfield. Chris Burke and Steven Naismith, on either side of Cousin, performed with the pent-up enthusiasm of schoolkids unleashed after the holidays. They peppered Tony Caig's goal with shots but did not provoke a meaningful save from the goalkeeper.

Barry Ferguson, encouraged to play further afield with the inclusion of Brahim Hemdani, was similarly out of the groove when his first dart forward was spoiled by a weak finish. He eventually found his range. Gretna's forays were seldom but Yantorno, their uncommonly exuberant Uruguayan forward, tried his best to probe for weaknesses after Rangers' unwanted hiatus.

As Rangers compiled a compendium of missed chances, Gretna's optimism grew. It did not last long. A long ball was headed on by Naismith and Ferguson bounded into the box to dispatch clinically past Caig. It was no more than Rangers deserved for their dominance but it did not disguise their fragility at the back.

Even accounting for the intermission, Rangers' advantage was similarly short-lived. Alan Jenkins engineered space beyond Sasa Papac and delivered an inviting ball that was thumped behind McGregor by Deuchar. Even the stadium announcer seemed startled by the comeback, playing the chorus of Robert Palmer's Doctor Doctor and telling the audience, with astonishment in his voice: "Well, it's been a while since I played this."

As Deuchar pulled his weight around the Rangers defence, Cousin performed with the kind of economy that makes a mockery of an apparently imminent £3m bid from Fulham. Rangers were perplexed by the unfolding drama. Ally McCoist, the trackside jack-in-the-box, became apoplectic by the increasingly eccentric officiating.

Iain Brines is no Tiny Warton but he was poor even by his own standards. He rightly waved away a penalty claim when Cousin's ponderousness enabled Danny Hall to block his shot but he refused to penalise a late challenge on Naismith and, in conjunction with his assistant, Steve Pullar, ignored Caig's accidental handling of the ball outside his perimeter.

It made for a feisty finale and despite Cousin's enduring presence aggravating the away crowd, he had the final say, rounding Caig and finishing almost in defiance of his growing number of detractors.