Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland claims a half-time reminder of how the team hauled themselves into the title race helped calm nerves at Kilmarnock.
Rangers are celebrating a hard-earned three points on a difficult night at Rugby Park where the club had to come from behind to defeat a stubborn Killie side 2-1.
The Gers went into the interval 1-0 down courtesy of a controversial Danny Armstrong penalty with the Ibrox side rattled by Kilmarnock’s aggressive game in the first 45.
But in the second Rangers rallied with goals from James Tavernier and Tom Lawrence coming after a stunning save by Jack Butland to prevent it going 2-0.
Jack Butland on half-time team talk v Kilmarnock
Speaking to RangersTV after the match, Jack Butland has explained what was said at half-time to keep his Rangers charges focused v Kilmarnock.
Claiming that the message was to remain calm, the England international hopeful also revealed a friendly reminder over how far the team has come helped inspire the comeback.
“You go behind to a penalty and it feels like you’ve got a bit of an uphill battle so you just need to remain calm,” said Butland. “Which we did.
“Obviously you’re then desperate to try and get back an equaliser quick but we knew we had enough time.
“That was the message at half-time really; just to remain calm, we need to get back playing, get the ball down more, we were a bit sloppy with the ball, and ultimately we got what we wanted and probably deserved in the end.”
“There was never any panic. We just remained calm.
“Reiterated at half-time why we’re in the position we are and how we’ve got back here and all the rest of it.
“We just continued to do that second half. Remained calm and in the end two brilliant finishes from Tav and Tom and it gets us the three points that we’re after.”
Rangers goalkeeper plays crucial role
Jack Butland has been crucial to Rangers hauling themselves into the Scottish Premiership title race and once again played a key role in the win over Kilmarnock.
The stopper pulled off a stunning save to deny Marley Watkins just after the restart and provided the foundation for James Tavernier and Tom Lawrence to win the day.
It’s those three moments of quality which are allowing Rangers to celebrate the victory and kudos to the Rangers goalkeeper for once again playing a key role in our season.
The 30-year-old has been a revelation at Ibrox this campaign and long may his tremendous form continue.
