Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has criticised his outfield players after being asked about Allan McGregor’s big contribution against Aberdeen [RangersTV].
The Gers keeper was crucial to last weekend’s Old Firm triumph and he impressed again in the 2-1 win over the Dons on Sunday afternoon.
McGregor was largely a spectator in the first half at Pittodrie and with the Gers 2-0 up and cruising by the 50th minute, it looked likely that the game would be played to completion without him being called upon.
However, in the 57th minute, out of the blue, he was forced into a one-handed diving stop to deny Jonny Hayes.
It was a brilliant save that earned him plaudits from Ally McCoist on commentary, but his defence went walkabout again ten minutes later and substitute Matty Kennedy finished off a quick Aberdeen breakaway to set up a tense finish.
During his post-match RangersTV interview, Gerrard was asked to comment on McGregor’s key save, but he was more interested in criticising his outfield players for conceding chances.
“A top save, yeah, but we shouldn’t be relying on Greegs,” responded the manager. “The way the game panned out, he should have had a real quiet ninety minutes.”
“So, for him to bail us out, it’s something that I need to look at because at 2-0 when they’re playing against an extra man, they shouldn’t get near our goal.”
“That’s where we need to strive to get better.”
There’s no doubt that Rangers let their guard down a little after going two goals to the good, with the Hayes chance and the Kennedy strike both very much avoidable if attacking players had retained possession and defenders had been better positioned.
However, the slackness didn’t prove costly in the end and the goal was just the sixth Gerrard’s side have conceded in 23 Premiership matches this season.
Perhaps a more pragmatic approach will be adopted if the Gers take the lead in either of their two remaining away games this month at Motherwell and Hibernian, but there’s no pressing need for changes to the team’s shape as the gap at the top of the table continues to widen.
Rangers had several standout performers at Pittodrie, with one star receiving a 9 and two others awarded 8s in our Player Ratings.
