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Motherwell 0-2 Rangers: Things we learned as Tavernier and Waghorn see off Steelmen

Rangers defeated Motherwell fairly easily in the League Cup Group Stage. Here are some talking points...

Mark Runnacles/Getty Images

1. Last season's team still has last season's flaws

The defensive lapses of yesteryear were present again as Mark Warburton picked a team containing no new signings, and it's not hard to see why we've signed Jordan Rossiter and Joey Barton. Andy Halliday's tracking back is laughable, the defence are offered no protection at all, and they're not good enough to do so. Tavernier had some questionable moments at the back, but showed why he's worth keeping around with some excellent attacking play. That's why we've signed the likes of Rossiter - hopefully it works out.

2. Josh Windass, Barrie McKay and Niko Kranjcar will set fire to tears

Barrie McKay started the match with some majestic, pinpoint passing and offering our only creative outlet. He kept it up throughout, and generally looked exactly like the player he was last season. Then Josh Windass entered the fray (looking slightly more svelte than his Stanley days) and showed a tremendous blend of pace, power and poise. Then there was Niko, and the man put in a Dimitar Berbatov-esque, louche performance of such pure sexiness that it reminded you why you actually liked football in the first place. These three ahead of Joey Barton and Jordan Rossiter, and we should have the best midfield in the country by some distance.

3. Rob Kiernan is not very good

How can a man continuously make the mistake of charging out and never winning the ball, while also making the error of standing off players when a tackle is required? Kiernan simply doesn't seem to have the brains to be a centre-back and should probably be replaced as soon as possible.

4. We still need a striker

Martyn Waghorn put in an erratic performance, generally growing into the game as it went on after a pretty poor start. His ability is not questionable, but his ability to be a line-leading centre-forward is. He is a wide-man, and always plays far better in that position. A more orthodox striker might be what this team needs, or it might not be. But whoever it is, it's probably not Waghorn.