The league title race isn’t over yet despite the disappointment of dropping points to Aberdeen on Sunday, however, Philippe Clement will be looking to cut out the sort of mistakes that cost Rangers the opening goal.
As a former international centre-half, it will have been even more frustrating especially after Gers-linked Bojan Miovski had already missed one glaring chance after only three minutes.
The defence as a whole has restricted other teams since Philippe Clement took the Rangers job but it is a goal that will not look good in the post-match debrief.
Philippe Clement has to fix simple Rangers issue
In Connor Goldson and Leon Balogun, the Gers boss went with the pairing that had been largely successful so far.
Clement is clearly picking on what he has seen so far and, in fairness to Balogun he has looked solid in every game that he has been picked.
Goldson has been around long enough now to know how the defence sets up and has played with all his potential partners on multiple occasions – the partnership at Pittodrie was key in winning a league title.
Philippe Clement will be aware that Rangers centre-halves have to be capable of going man for man at the back and of defending half of the Ibrox pitch on their own but he’s not really faced a team with two out and out strikers like an old fashioned pairing.
Balogun had his warning when Miovski ran through on Jack Butland in the third minute but he didn’t heed it when the North Macedonian international made a similar run for the opening goal.
Leaving it to someone else has never been an option in the good defenders handbook.
As for Connor Goldson….
He would almost have been as well not being there when you look at the Sky Sports footage.
The ball travels over 50 yards from a goalkeeper in a team that always looks to go long and direct, it shouldn’t have been a surprise when Kelle Roos launched it to Ester Sokler down his channel.
The vice captain should deal with the first contact – he doesn’t.
When he makes the decision not to attack the ball he should adjust his feet and get into the position for the second ball – he doesn’t.
He could also have brought Balogun up to play Miovski offside too, iff he had been quick enough, but you guessed it – he doesn’t.
The time it takes Connor Goldson to react to the flick on will have Philippe Clement scratching his head, especially when Rangers haven’t been conceding many goals.
Hopefully, it’s one that has been learned from because it was as bad a goal as you’ll see a professional team concede this season.
