Rangers fans wouldn’t have expected to take anything going to Real Betis, however, under Philippe Clement we are a different proposition and so is John Lundstram.
The “best on earth” was back on top Europa League form proving that a new contract is looking more and more likely by the week.
Rangers faced a Real Betis side that, like us at Ibrox, simply don’t lose at home and a midfield that featured both Isco and William Carvalho, and yet it was John Lundstram who came out on top as our man of the match in the player ratings.
Rangers back on form with John Lundstram front and centre
It wasn’t all plain sailing though, in the initial stages, even after Abdallah Sima scored the opening goal, Betis were the team on top and looked like scoring almost every time they got into the final third.
Jose Cifuentes was an able assistant, trying to fill the gaps but the Spaniards movement was proving difficult to keep at bay.
Once they had adapted to the step up in quality from what they’re used to, Rangers structure improved but, it was efforts of John Lundstram that were most impressive.
Usually, he has Ryan Jack next to him in games like this but after Cifuentes went off injured at half-time, he had the dynamo that is Dujon Sterling alongside him as Rangers squad became even more stretched.
What this meant was that Lundstram could be more aggressive, press higher and close the space that Isco had been operating in.
In possession, he kept it simple, but seemed to be everywhere and available to recycle play.
He was also making overlapping runs past the wingers.
Philippe Clement wants his Rangers team to be robust, dynamic, aggressive and put the team first, John Lundstram is all of these things.
His performance under the new Gers boss have been consistently good but, against Betis, it was exactly what we needed from a player who many wanted chased not that long ago.
Now, a new contract seems more likely than not.
