Dan Neil admits ‘surprise’ at Rangers tactic tweak but gamble paid off

Dan Neil admits the Rangers squad were surprised to see Derek McInnes’ tactical tweak involving James Penrice – but they all bought in and it paid off.

The Ibrox gaffer made the decision to have left-back Penrice man-mark Celtic star Benjamin Nygren during the Old Firm double-header across the past seven days. The defender also acted as an inverted full-back by moving into the centre of midfield and he put in two excellent shifts as Gers won both clashes convincingly.

 

Neil benefitted greatly from the change in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final as he netted two stunners playing slightly further forward. And the Englishman dominated the midfield at Parkhead when the Light Blues silenced the home crowd with another victory.

It was a gamble from McInnes and one his players did not see coming. But Neil, 24, confessed that his boss got the call spot on as it allowed him to play with freedom in attack while keeping Celtic’s stars in check.

“The Penrice one I think we were all surprised at it, even on the training pitch. But it absolutely worked to perfection and Penners was absolutely briliant in both games,” Neil told Premier Sports’ Scottish Football Social Club.

 

“I’ve been given a bit of a licence with them two behind us to go and get in the box and I think when I first came in I was very much the No.6 who would sit behind the ball and try to dictate from deep.

“But with Nico (Raskin) coming back into the team and Penners coming inside – well to be honest I haven’t actually been given a licence I’ve just used those behind me to get in the box – so I kind of took that upon myself.

 

“I’ve enjoyed it. When I first broke through into professional football that was my game, box to box, getting in the box and on the ball as much as possible. Whether that was deep or high, I feel like I’m doing things I did when I was a bit younger.”

 

It was a difficult start for Rangers following their European exits as well as some early slips in the Scottish Premiership. But Neil has always been convinced the team would come good.

For the former Sunderland midfielder, manager McInnes has been a big part of that. And the results against Celtic came, not just thanks to a change in set-up, but from the 55-year-old instiling a mentality in his squad to run faster, work harder and battle stronger than their opponents.

 

“The first few weeks were really tough and because he’s Rangers through and through you could feel the disappointment. But he kept the same energy around the training ground whether we won or lost.