“Here we go, three in a row” doesn’t quite have the same ring to it at as the ditty being chanted across the city about a domestic la decima, but
achieving a modest hat-trick is not without significance for Rangers.
Celtic have been galloping towards title after title as Rangers learn how to walk again in the Scottish top flight.
It has been a frustrating exercise for those who part with their hard-earned cash to watch it. Indeed it’s often been two steps forward and one back at best during the tenures of both Mark Warburton and Pedro Caixinha.
Read more: Pedro Caixinha delighted with Rangers' 'best collective performance' in win over St Johnstone
Under the Portuguese, the Ibrox club have yet to win three games on the spin, a trait that would curtail the aspirations of even the most enthusiastic supporter that their team has it in them to conjure up something special.
But that could all change this Sunday on the back of tentative signs that
Rangers may just be beginning to find their feet.
At New Douglas Park before the international break they blew Hamilton Academical away 4-1, albeit they did so having lost a goal in the first minute. Then on Friday in Perth, a St Johnstone side with a point to prove could not prevent Caixinha steering Rangers to a 3-0 victory and only their second clean sheet of the season.
The fact Caixinha managed to coax another two goals out of the enigmatic Carlos Pena in itself speaks of something truly extraordinary taking place.
A win this coming Sunday would not only top both those victories as
Caixinha finally secured a hat-trick of wins after seven months in charge, but it would be the most impressive victory of his reign so far if he orchestrated a way to get beyond high-flying Motherwell at Hampden and secure a place in the Betfred Cup final.
In recent weeks there has been a resoluteness and commitment to
Rangers which hasn’t been seen for a long time. They had the drive last month to overcome a plucky Partick Thistle in the quarter-final stage, and even in defeat to Celtic in the league, the game was at least a contest for 45 minutes. Which is an improvement of sorts.
At the back on Friday night the reintroduction of Portugual’s answer to Davie Weir in the form of Bruno Alves undoubtedly had a significant impact on proceedings. While Scots will be keen to see Ross McCrorie thrust in beside him, Fabio Cardoso is clearly benefitting from partnering his compatriot and idol.
Graham Dorrans is starting to show some nice touches again, for Pena see above, and if you manage to get more than 20 minutes out of Josh Windass then Rangers could very well be on to a winner.
“We are better than when we won on the opening day. We have been working and we can show how we have come on as a team in the semi-final against Motherwell,” said Jason Holt, the Rangers midfielder.
Read more: Pedro Caixinha delighted with Rangers' 'best collective performance' in win over St Johnstone
We want to get some momentum because that is important for every club. It stands you in good stead if you can get that and we can get a really good vibe about the place and hopefully we can get that.”
Holt – who had a solid game in the middle of the park in place of Ryan Jack on Friday night – is right. Rangers are better than they were when they last played Motherwell on the opening day of the season. The problem for Rangers is, so are Motherwell.
A single point separates Rangers and the team they defeated 2-1 at Fir Park in a game that easily could have been a draw, while Stephen Robinson’s men have only lost three out of 15 games this season, winning 11 in the process. If Rangers stop it from being 12, then we should all take notice.
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