| Player | CZE | Pos Res | Success Rate | Highlighted Team results |
| Barrie McKay | 14 | 9 | 0.64 | 3 shots, 2 free kicks, throw in, corner |
| James Tavernier | 9 | 8 | 0.89 | 3 shots, free kick, corner |
| Lee Wallace | 6 | 4 | 0.67 | free kick, corner, throw in |
| Kenny Miller | 6 | 3 | 0.50 | penalty, corner |
| Nicky Law | 5 | 3 | 0.60 | corner, throw-in |
| Rob Kiernan | 4 | 4 | 1.00 | shot, corner |
| Gedion Zelalem | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | penalty |
| Andy Halliday | 2 | 1 | 0.50 | |
| Martyn Waghorn | 1 | 1 | 1.00 | corner |
| Jason Holt | 1 | 1 | 1.00 | corner |
| Danny Wilson | 1 | 1 | 1.00 | |
| Dean Shiels | 1 | 1 | 1.00 | throw in |
| Nicky Clark | 1 | 1 | 1.00 | shot |
| Totals | 53 | 39 | 0.74 | 2 penalties earned, 8 shots |
CZE: Controlled Zone Entry, Pos Res: Positive Result, Success Rate: percentage of controlled entries turned into a positive result
This data is meant to be an entry point to further understand where Rangers attack is being generated. It is, however, only a starting point.
These stats would have much greater meaning if passing in the final third was tracked. The players mentioned above are the catalysts for advanced play in the attacking third, but the ultimate results usually fall upon the feet of their teammates.
- First off, it should be noted that there likely is a greater margin for error in this data given the conditions created by the snow.
- Three of Rangers four goals came as an indirect, byproduct of controlled entries into the zone. There was the penalty earned from Kenny Miller’s initial entry into the attacking third, as he played a one-two pass & was eventually dragged down in the box. The other two came from corners that were earned after a CZE.
- Barrie McKay has reclaimed his spot as Rangers most important player at driving play into the final third with back-to-back weeks of leading the team in CZE. For a while, he was the outlet pass after the entry but now he has reverted back to the player who initiates possession into the attacking third. He accounted for 26% of the CZE against Livi & when you combine his results with James Tavernier – six of the eight shots off of controlled entries came when McKay & Tavernier drove play into the final third.
- Of Rangers shots in open play – 57% came from controlled entries into the final third.
- An indicator of Rangers dominant play on the ball is the fact that Rob Kiernan was able to push further up the pitch & actually have four CZE – more than players like Andy Halliday & Jason Holt.
- Nicky Law’s numbers are a little misleading in the fact that he had four CZE in a very brief period (about a minute or two) right before he came out of the game.
- Rangers did see a dip in shot creation. After averaging a shot on roughly 30% of their CZE in their last three matches, Rangers only generated a shot on 15% of their CZE against Livingston.
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