The defensive failings on display for Rangers in the win over Dundee were “unbelievable” according to Tom English.
The BBC journalist was shocked live on Sportscene on 9 December at the “weakness” through the back of Philippe Clement’s side as they went behind early at Ibrox thanks to Amadou Bakayoko.
The striker poked home when reacting faster than any Light Blues player in the penalty area from a fifth minute corner, after Lyall Cameron had wandered past Leon Balogun and John Lundstram with ease twice on his way into the box moments earlier before having his shot narrowly tipped round the post by Jack Butland.
Leanne Crichton said after the goal went in (3.07pm): “Rangers have got so many blue jerseys in and around that area, Rory, not one of them picks him up.”
Rory Hamilton then replied: “Yeah and they’re all looking at each other.”
English summed up: “They lose the first header, Lundstram heads the ball back behind him. The weakness just before for the chance, and for that, the weakness at the back is unbelievable.”
Sloppy
Put bluntly English was right because Rangers were awful at the back against a team they swept aside 5-0 in the return fixture just over a month ago (1 November).
Throughout the afternoon, but especially during the first half, Butland appeared to be more uncomfortable than he has possibly ever looked as a Gers player as none of his defenders, or the central midfield provided adequate protection.
Dundee had a second goal ruled out for a foul on the keeper by Bakayoko and the defence looked generally startled any time visiting attackers ran at them with the ball, while Lundstram was far from the only man to direct a header the wrong way into danger.
When the problems up front have been well documented the last thing Clement needs is for his defence to look so brittle, or for his midfield to be chasing the play.
In fairness to Lundstram he did grow into the game, while the back line was slightly better after the break, but Jose Cifuentes never even made it that far as he was sent off in first-half stoppage time, albeit slightly harshly.
His suspension adds to the injury crisis in midfield that has Nico Raskin, Ryan Jack and Tom Lawrence all unavailable, while John Souttar did nothing to convince the manager to keep him in the XI after deciding to rest Connor Goldson.
Various factors combined to leave Rangers looking worryingly open at the back ahead of some vital games in the context of the season.
In other Rangers news, “perfect” three-way transfer scenario tipped to work out for the Light Blues in January.
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