High-flying Malik Tillman produced another magic moment as he sent Rangers on their way to a crushing 4-0 win over St Johnstone.
The on-loan Bayern Munich kid was the hero for Gio van Bronckhorst’s team as he leapt high to power home the goal that killed off Union Saint-Gilloise in their opening Champions League qualifier on Tuesday night. And he was at it again as he climbed into the sky to plant the opening goal past Remi Matthews with another stunning header. Antonio Colak made it three strikes in three games as he smashed home number two before substitutes Scott Arfield and Tom Lawrence rounded off a miserable day for Callum Davidson’s sorry Saints.
Ben Davies and Rabbi Matondo started for the Ibrox side as van Bronckhorst gave Ryan Kent and Lawrence a rest ahead of Tuesday’s crucial play-off crunch with PSV Eindhoven. St Johnstone fans hoping to get an early look at new signing Daniel Phillips didn’t have to wait long, with the former Watford midfielder thrown on just seven minutes in as Cammy MacPherson was forced off injured. The visitors had already survived an early scare by that point after Remi Matthews smashed his clearance off Tillman. To the keeper’s huge relief, the rebound bounced wide of his goal frame. It was Gers holding their breath 17 minutes in as some awful defending from Ben Davies and Borna Barisic handed Callum Davidson’s team a huge opportunity.
Barisic was caught by surprise when Davies failed to meet the flight of Jamie Murphy’s cross, with the ball bouncing off the Croatian into the path of Theo Bair. The Canadian international was already taking a tumble as he swung his leg out but could only steer wide as the Light Blues were handed an almighty let-off.
The teams stopped for a water break midway through the half but Rangers thirst for an early breakthrough went unquenched as Tillman fired over before Matthews clawed away John Lundstram’s rasping drive from outside the box.
But van Bronckhorst’s team were soon drinking in the celebrations as yet another superhuman leap from Tillman saw them go ahead as he powered home with his head from James Tavernier’s back-post cross. Again Rangers were responsible for giving Saints their best hope of a goal.
Matondo was slack in possession as he was robbed outside his own box and it took a vital block to take the sting out of Graham Carey’s shot. The Welsh winger has yet to really show the Ibrox faithful what he’s capable of, with his clumsiness on the ball at times frustrating the fans expecting big things from the Schalke signing.
But he almost produced a screamer to silence his doubters as he whipped a ferocious effort off the cross bar seven minutes into the second period. Barisic came close with a free-kick while Colak was left to laugh at himself after getting his ambitious attempt at a scissor kick all wrong.
But Saints failed to see the funny side on 62 minutes as the Croatian fired Gers two-up in this Premiership clash. Drey Wright looked to have dealt with the danger as he cut out Ryan Jack’s path to Matondo. However, the former Hibs man was far too casual on the ball as Matondo refused to give it up, sliding in to nudge the ball on to Colak, who scored with a neat swivel and shot.
Rangers had rung the changes with a flurry of substitutes and it was two of the replacements who put a gloss on the win with two goals in two minutes
First on 81 minutes, a lovely pass from Ryan Jack sent Matondo racing in behind. Side-stepping Matthews, he cut the ball back for Arfield to stroke home.
And then Lawrence clipped home the fourth after more patient build-up found Tavernier in the box for the assist.
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The Malik Show
The Rangers fans were queuing up to try out the Malik Tillman Header Challenge outside Ibrox before kick-off.
And it became an even taller order for Saints as soon as the on-loan Bayern Munich ace produced another mighty leap to put van Bronckhorst’s team ahead just after the half-hour mark.
The American seemed to be soar 10 feet high as he thudded home the header that saw off Union Saint-Gilloise in midweek.
And he reached similarly lofty heights as Gers cut through Saints for the opener.
It’s been an impressive start from Tillman, with his skills on the ball just as threatening as his aerial abilities. Along with John Lundstram, he set the tempo for a controlled display.
WIth Gers holding an “exclusive option to buy” the 20-year-old, it surely can’t be long before sporting director Ross Wilson is on the phone to Bavaria looking to tie make his Ibrox stay a permanent affair.
Fab Tony
Antonio Colak is quickly hushing those doubters who questioned whether he was up to the task of leading the line for Rangers. It’s now three goals in as many games for the former POAK striker after he produced a clinical turn and finish to put the game beyond St Johnstone.
Had it not been for a dodgy offside call in the Premiership opener against Livingston, he’d had four in five games this term. Finishing clearly ins’t an issue for big frontman and he’s looking more and more comfortable in his new side, playing a great role in the build-up stuff than he managed in his first few appearances.
That will be a huge relief for van Bronckhorst while he waits for talisman Alfredo Morelos to get back up to speed after his long-lay off. The Dutchman is going to need a big performance from his striker on Tuesday if the are to stand a chance of toppling PSV.
Sinning Saints
It was always going to be a huge ask of Callum Davidson’s team for them to get anything at Ibrox. But the McDiarmid boss will be furious with how easy his team made it for the Europa League runners-up.
Malik Tillman had the freedom of Govan as he headed home the opener at the back post with no marker in sight. And Drey Wright had to be much more aware of the danger in behind as he failed to clear his lines for the second, dawdling on the ball before being robbed by Matondo.
To cause an upset in Glasgow, you simply can’t afford to make such basic errors.
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