Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday has slammed his side’s defending after the 3-3 draw with Motherwell.
Despite a Kyle Lafferty brace and Ovie Ejaria strike, the Gers had to settle for a point at Fir Park. Peter Hartley’s late header secured a point in the last minute for Steven Robinson’s side. The goal snatched the win from Rangers’ grasp. Steven Gerrard was subsequently left frustrated on the sideline, as well as the Gers players.
Halliday was given another chance to make a midfield role his own this afternoon. The Mark Warburton signing has been given something of a reprieve in recent weeks, and took his chance well once more.
Angry Halliday
However, costly defensive lapses meant that he couldn’t take full satisfaction from another decent display.
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We did so well to get ourselves back into the game after a pretty fast start from Motherwell, but the goals that we conceded today were criminal, there’s no getting away from that.I think we’ve showed this season that we’ve improved defensively as a unit throughout the squad, but you aren’t going to win football games conceding the goals that we did today.
The comments are likely to be a wake-up call to the new-look Rangers back-line. Connor Goldson and Nikola Katic have defended stoutly as a pair so far this season. However, today’s performance from the pair was as poor as they’ve been since arriving.
Timely Reminder
It was a timely reminder of the standards Rangers have set themselves this season.
Despite frequent defensive issues last season, Rangers have shored up this term. In 11 competitive matches under Gerrard, Rangers have notched six clean sheets. Today was the first time any side has scored more than one goal against them this term.
Regardless, it’s a thoroughly disappointing performance from the Gers back-line. Halliday has every right to call them out for it. It also shows that the mifielder is turning into a leader since returning to the fold.
Next up for Rangers is their second-leg of a Europa League playoff clash against FC Ufa in Russia on Thursday night.