Rangers defender Connor Goldson and Uche Ikpeazu of Hearts will no doubt come up against each other today. Interestingly, however, it won’t be for the first time.
Goldson was part of the Shrewsbury defence back in April 2014 when Crewe took a 3-1 win away from home. Ikpeazu was part of that Crewe side over three years ago. Whisper it quietly, but Ikpeazu also netted in the win as well.
The Rangers defender has improved massively since that outing for Shrewsbury in England’s League One. Fast forward three-and-a-half years later and the Englishman is now marshalling Steven Gerrard’s Rangers from the back.
Yet, Goldson found time to talk about his previous contest with Ikpeazu. Speaking in the pre-match press conference, Goldson lavished praise on the big striker.
“We’ll see how it goes, he’s a big lad. I’ve played against him before in League One when I was at Shrewsbury and I think he was only about 16 then and the same size.
“He hasn’t got any smaller, he’s massive. I can’t remember how the game went. I just remember looking at him and thinking, ‘You’re a big boy’.
“It is a game of football and we need to show Hearts respect, they are top of the league but at the same time they are coming to Ibrox and we know if we perform to our level, with our crowd behind us then we have a good chance.
“It is a whole XI but Uche is doing well, as is Steven Naismith up front, so it will be a good test and we are looking forward to it.”
No repeats please
It’s of vital importance that Goldson doesn’t allow a repeat of his bullying from Ikpeazu back in 2014. Both Goldson and Joe Worrall, who’s looking increasingly likely to be partnering him, need to stay alert.
Ikpeazu is going to provide the same challenge that Dolly Menga of Livingston did. The pair are very similar players, but Menga is perhaps slightly more quick and dynamic on the ball. Rangers, however, need to be up for the physical challenge that the big front-man is going to bring this afternoon.
Where dealing with Ikpeazu is more difficult, however, is with the quality that plays alongside. Whilst Menga could be isolated at Livingston, Ikpeazu constantly has support alongside him, and quality support too. Like Goldson mentioned, Steven Naismith is in prolific form, and will always be looking to make runs off of the big striker.
Simply put, Worrall was awful last week. He has redeemed himself slightly with a good display in the win over Rapid Vienna on Thursday night. But this afternoon poses a much stiffer test than Rapid’s Andrija Pavlovic did.
It’ll be down to Gerrard’s Rangers to get on the front foot and take the game to Hearts. Anything less, and Ikpeazu will have a field day.
