One accusation that has been thrown at Rangers is that there aren’t enough leaders or characters who can be trusted when the going gets tough.
In Liam Kelly, Barry Ferguson at least has a player who appreciates the opportunity that he has at the club and understands that a draw is as bad as a defeat.
The current man between the sticks was clearly livid in the post-match press conference and wasn’t afraid to criticise those in front of him.
If ever a player spoke like a fan, it was Kelly after the draw against St Mirren in what was a refreshing change to the usual soundbites from the usual faces.
Kelly had to wait for his dream to come true and earn his first start for Rangers, but hasn’t let anyone down since replacing Jack Butland, posing the question of who starts in goal next season?
Liam Kelly on Rangers No.1 battle with Jack Butland
When asked if he was fighting to be No.1 next season, the Rangers academy graduate said:
“No, because I feel it’s always just one game at a time, honestly.
“I know that’s a cliche answer, but I’ve realised you can play so well here one week and then you’re the best in the world. Then you can play so poorly, and then all of a sudden, you’re not the answer.
“So, I just need to focus on playing well one game at a time. Come the summer, what will be, will be.
“Listen, Jack [Butland] is pushing to play every single day, so that’s a massive challenge for me when you’ve got a goalkeeper of his level desperate to play.
“One game at a time, done all right today, made a couple of mistakes on the ball, which is unlike me, but done a couple of good things.
“But as a collective, we need to be far, far better and that includes me. I won’t take myself away from that.”
Will Butland get another chance this season?
It would be a surprise if Butland doesn’t get a chance between now and the end of the season to restore a bit of confidence.
In the same week, he went from man of the match against Fenerbahce, to costing his team goals either side with amateur mistakes domestically.
On form, and at their best, Butland is a better keeper than Kelly, but there is a lot to be said about the Scotland international’s confidence and leadership in terms of setting standards in the Auchenhowie dressing room.
At one point, it looked like the Rangers No.1 was one area of the park that was going to be in safe hands for the foreseeable future and that Hall of Fame legend Allan McGregor had been replaced.
Now, it is as uncertain a position as any.
