Rangers legend Ally McCoist beleives Ross McCausland justified his introduction as the winger rewarded Philippe Clement’s faith with an ‘excellent’ equaliser in the 1-1 UEFA Europa League draw with Aris Limassol.
If one moment summed up Todd Cantwell’s brief time on the Ibrox pitch on Thursday night, it came just minutes before his first-half minute hooking.
The Rangers number 13 squared up to an Aris Limassol defender wide on the right and, instead of galloping into the wide open space, cut back and laid the ball square into midfield. In the former Norwich City star’s defence, he is more of a number ten than a natural wide player, and pace has never been one of his main attributes.
Ross McCausland scores first Rangers goal
But the difference in the threat Rangers posed once Ross McCausland took his place in the 36th minute was purely night and day, the 20-year-old needing only a few seconds of second-half football to cancel out Aris’ opener with a textbook shift and shot into the far corner.
It was he, meanwhile, who looked the most likely to create a winner in the remaining half-hour or so.
“Excellent goal. I’ll tell you one thing it does, it justifies the substitution,” McCoist said during TNT Sport’s live coverage (30 November, 8pm). “Danilo does well (to lay it off). But all he needs is a half yard.
“I tell the kids all the time; ‘You don’t need to beat the defender. All you need to do is make a half yard’. And that’s exactly what he does.
“Excellent finish from the young man.”
Gers frustrated by Aris Limassol draw
If Cantwell looked like a square peg in a round hole, then young McCausland was precisely the opposite.
An old-school throwback of a wideman, the Rangers academy graduate celebrated his new long-term contract with a first senior goal on Thursday night, a well-taken equaliser guaranteeing that Philippe Clement’s side will be plying European football in the New Year even if the tournament with which they will grace is yet to be determined.
