Jordan Amissah will not look back too fondly on his first ever trip to Ibrox, the Ross County goalkeeper picking the ball out of his net four times as Rangers cruised to a commanding home win.
But, hey, no matter how bad you may be feeling, there is always someone, somewhere, in a worse position.
220 miles to the south, to be precise.
While Amissah was powerless to prevent Ianis Hagi, John Souttar and James Tavernier from finding the net on Sunday afternoon – the Romania international hit a 25-minute brace, Souttar added a third before the break and the captain stroked in a late penalty – at least the browbeaten glovesman avoided the humiliation suffered by one former Rangers goalkeeper.
A former Rangers goalkeeper beaten seven times while on the end of the biggest defeat seen in this part of the world since 1972.
Jak Alnwick certainly endured a few of nightmare outings of his own in a Rangers shirt.
He was between the sticks as a team containing Jason Cummings, Graham Dorrans and Russell Martin suffered a 5-0 defeat at the hands of Old Firm rivals Celtic in April 2018. A few weeks later, Alnwick was hit for five again as a remarkable ten goals were shared between Rangers and Hibernian.
But this was a new low.
Former Rangers goalkeeper Jak Alnwick suffers 7-0 Cardiff City defeat
Cardiff City were pummelled 7-0 by Leeds United at Elland Road.
Daniel Farke’s team proving their title credentials in emphatic fashion while the resurgent Bluebirds saw their wings clipped after an upturn in results saw them threaten to leave the relegation zone behind.
Now only four points above the line, and their goal difference worse off by a tally of seven, and it’s a case of ‘hello darkness my old friend’ for Omer Riza’s red-faced, blue-shirted outfit.
To think, the now-31-year-old Alnwick signed a new Cardiff contract prior to kick off in West Yorkshire. This was hardly the ideal way to mark such an occasion.
“I got a feeling when I first came down here, the way the club have supported me, the fans, everything about the place, it gives you a feeling of home,” the well-travelled Alnwick said after putting pen to paper, three years after joining from St Mirren and five since Rangers let him go on a free transfer.
“It’s a special place and for me to be able to stay longer. I can’t wait.”
One suspects Alnwick was feeling a little less positive about a future in South Wales as Joel Piroe darted in behind and rolled home the seventh goal of Leeds’ biggest home win in 53 years.
Now, it would be maybe a little harsh to pin the blame for any of Leeds goals at Alnwick directly. Though the visiting support, on a long and haunting return trip back home, could be forgiven for questioning his decision to rush out, and then get caught in no-mans’ land, as Dan James squared for Brenden Aaronson to tap in the opener.
Alnwick’s parry also fell at the feet of James as a resulting penalty kick put Leeds 5-0 up. The Newcastle academy graduate was maybe a little slow to react as Willy Gnonto’s effort crept into the corner as well.
But this is the nature of life as a goalkeeper. You are the last line of defence and, when those in front of you melt away like his Cardiff teammates did at Elland Road, there is only really so much one man can do.
