BBC pundit in staunch Philippe Clement defence over questionable Rangers team call

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Everything that Philippe Clement does in charge of Rangers will be questioned between now and the end of the season.

Being away from Ibrox was maybe a blessing in hindsight with the performance at Tynecastle patchy at best and lucky, at worst, according to some.

The Rangers manager is due a change of fortunes but his starting XI for Rangers against Hearts was one that suggested he wanted players who had been there and done it before, despite the inclusion of Tom Lawrence being a questionable one.

• READ MORE: Philippe Clement confirms Rangers trio are set to return to training, Oscar Cortes silence deafening

Marvin Bartley backs Philippe Clement’s call to play Tom Lawrence

Sportscene pundit and former Hibernian midfielder Marvin Bartley is one of the most balanced and well-respected figures in Scottish football and, surprisingly, he has backed the call.

Clement has recently addressed his approach to playing Rangers academy players and knows that it is a difficult balancing act, having criticised the experienced players against Queen’s Park.

Writing on X in response to You-Tuber CJ Novo, Bartley felt that picking Lawrence over Bailey Rice or Findlay Curtis from the Rangers academy was the correct decision:

“From a manager’s point of view though, he needs to give the team the best chance of winning surely? Suggested Bartley.

“Football fans want to win first and foremost, after you guys games against Queen’s Park. This is even bigger. Would you accept losing/drawing today but developing players?”

“A young players development can be hampered by them being put into certain situations!

“I totally disagree and say when the chips are down, put the experience in to deal with it. That’s just me talking having been a young player in a squad and an old man mate.”

Why Clement was right to go with Lawrence against Hearts

Bartley is right, in theory, but the problem that Clement has, is that experienced players like Lawrence and Nedim Bajrami have offered very little for Rangers from open play in the number 10 role.

They should be the main creative force, capable of breaking defensive lines by passing or dribbling through opponents – Lawrence at least has solid numbers in terms of goals and assists.

This is why Clement gave him the nod, the Wales international has a goal or assist every 162 minutes as well as having the sort of shooting range that has seen goals scored from rebounds.

Clement was happy with Tom Lawrence’s first start since November and, in fairness, he did play Hamza Igamane in for the shot that fell to Vaclav Cerny for Rangers’ second goal, aside from this though, the game largely passed him by.

Rice and Curtis are only 18-years old, and the mood in the Rangers camp is as low as it could possibly be, as Bartley says, is it really worth ruining their long term prospects for a bit of short term satisfaction?