When Rangers travel along the M8 to Tynecastle this morning, they’ll know they can embark on the return journey top of the league.

Admittedly, it may only be for a matter hours with Celtic in action later today but regardless, given the atmosphere that has engulfed the club following three successive heavy defeats earlier this month, the need for positivity could not be clearer.

More directly, supporters require convincing that this team can win the league title, performances and positive trends to hold onto. Celtic’s dropped points against St Mirren only count for something if Rangers can capitalise on their error.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst has taken maximum points from two away trips against Hearts even though his side have struggled to pick up points consistently on the road ever since his initial month in chare. Today, he has big selection calls to make in each area of the park and will need a better showing than his team have mustered for the majority of their domestic season if top spot is to be even momentarily achieved.

Whether it be tempo, striker selection, set-pieces or shape, today’s match throws up a plethora of talking points.

The slow start and need for momentum

During van Bronckhorst’s initial month in charge, fast starts were obligatory and particularly stark given he inherited a team in the unhealthy habit of conceding first. Away wins against Hearts and Livingston late last year weren’t ‘wrapped up’ early on, despite two-goal leads being established by the 13th and 16th minute. Allan McGregor was repeatedly called into action at Tynecastle and David Martindale’s men pulled a goal back in their meeting to half the deficit. What is indisputable, however, is that the outcome of either game was heavily dictated by each Rangers early onslaught. A theme that has rarely been repeated since.

Of the 16 league goals Rangers have scored so far this season, just five have come before the half-time whistle. The intensity they begin games with has often appeared hampered by a desire for control. That, along with general performance levels, requires a lift as Ryan Jack detailed in yesterday’s press conference.

“I definitely think there’s a lot for us to improve on,” he said.

“We’ve had meetings over the last couple of weeks with players and staff and individually as well with some coaches. Make no mistake, there’s a lot for us individually and collectively to improve on. If we want to get to where we want to be, come the end of the season, challenging in all competitions then we’re going to have to improve and keep improving.”

Rangers Review: SBSB (Image: Rangers Review)

Robbie Neilson’s side will attack from the off and although a transition-heavy game may suit Rangers, who have largely scored by playing into space rather than breaking down defences in seven league games, they’ll need to withstand their opponent’s attack.

“It’s an opportunity for us. We’re sitting three points behind them and if we get a result, we can go ahead of them on goal difference so it’s a massive game for the club,” Neilson said in midweek.

“We always take it game by game but when we’re playing at Tynecastle, we expect to win every game and it’ll be the same on Saturday. There’s no doubt we’re playing against a quality team with a lot of international players. They've had this wee break to prepare for it as well, but we believe going into the game that we can win it.”

Morelos or Colak and time for Davies?

On the surface, the talk of dropping a striker who is scoring at the rate of a goal per game and overperforming his xG dramatically doesn’t make sense. Antonio Colak is the quintessential penalty-box forward. Lethal with chances even if little come his way but largely uninvolved outside of the 18-yard box. While Alfredo Morelos will not find the net with competing regularity, he is the better all-around player, providing more in build-up and creating a higher number of chances for his teammates.

The pair are different enough to compliment one another in a strike partnership, but the formation needed to facilitate that move is unlikely to be favoured, particularly in a game of this nature. If Rangers do start Morelos, they’ll lose a player in Colak responsible for 37 percent of their league goals to date. If they don’t, they’ll miss the Colombian’s ability to play through the opposition and play over pressure.

“I have already made my decision,” van Bronckhorst said of this selection dilemma yesterday, while naturally declining to be drawn any further.

Deeper in the pitch will Ben Davies be handed a second start in defence James Sands is suspended for the trip to Liverpool and with Leon King the only other option to partner Connor Goldson, a start for Davies would make sense.

Set-pieces blindspot

Earlier this month, the Rangers Review detailed the side’s struggles creating meaningful opportunities from corners in the league this season. Naturally, attention has been focused on concessions in the Champions League and as a result, van Bronckhorst shifted away from the zonal marking system exploited by Ajax and PSV.

After seven league games, only Dundee United have created a lower xG per 90 (0.14) from set-pieces than Rangers (0.16). By method of comparison, Celtic’s 0.56xG set-piece per 90 is almost four times that of their Old Firm rivals. They are on course to score north of a goal every two games from set-pieces based on their efforts so far while Rangers will score less than one in five.

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Last season, Rangers’ 0.39xG set-piece per 90 was only marginally behind Postecoglou’s men at 0.41xG. Van Bronckhorst confirmed extra work had gone into dead-ball scenarios prior to the meeting with Napoli last month, something which should’ve also been the case over the international break. 

In a title race, fine margins matter all the more and improvement at attacking set-pieces ought to be a non-negotiable.