John Lundstram earned a place in Chris Sutton’s Scottish Premiership Team of the Week after the Rangers midfielder played an integral role in the 2-1 comeback victory over Hearts at Ibrox.
When the ever-reliable James Tavernier slams a penalty against the base of the post with the score 1-0 to the visitors, even the most optimistic, glass-half-full supporter could be forgiven for wondering if this is, as they say, ‘one of those days’.
By full time, however, a very different footballing cliché came to mind. Hallmark of Champions? Five points behind Old Firm rivals Celtic and more functional than flowing, Rangers still feel a long way off their peak, but the resilience and the never-say-die spirit shown during the early days of the Philippe Clement reign have put a spring in the step of the Ibrox faithful once again, feeling that better days are now just around the corner.
Rangers beat Hearts at Ibrox
John Lundstram, meanwhile, is becoming something of a posterboy for a new era. Much-maligned under Mick Beale, Lundstram already looks a man revived under Clement, following up a fierce display in the goalless draw at Sparta Prague on Thursday with another much-improved performance when Hearts came to town.
The former Sheffield United enforcer was the only Rangers player included in Chris Sutton’s Daily Record Team of the Week too.
Six domestic points out of six since Clement’s appointment have closed the gap to Celtic at the top of the table. Brendan Rodgers’ side stumbled to a stalemate at Hibs, meaning there are only five points separating the two Glasgow rivals in first and second.
Philippe Clement ‘really happy’ with Ibrox fightback
“The emotions are that I am really happy,” Clement tells Rangers Review, Tavernier scoring with his second penalty of the match against Hearts before Danilo headed in a thumping winner in the 93rd minute.
“Clearly, they had the reaction that I wanted. I spoke about that with them. Our strength needs to be that, whatever happens in football, we never give up and we keep on repeating what we are doing because they are doing already good things together.
“Of course, we need to (be) better a lot of details. But, if we show the right mentality over and over again in every action, and in the reaction afterwards, then we are a really good team. That is what we showed together. Not with eleven but with the whole squad.
“Was it perfect? No. But, for me, it is a reference game in the way that they have seen (that), if they never give, up a lot of good things can happen.”
