Rangers must lockdown star as he nears best or Premier League beckons

Add as preferred source on Google

It’s arguable that the best and worst of Connor Goldson was on display in Rangers’ 2-0 win over Celtic at Parkhead.

The big defender was a commanding presence at both ends of the pitch, his leadership evident in the set-piece which brought the first goal.

Goldson has since revealed he told Tavernier where to put the ball and when the Rangers captain duly obliged the Ibrox defender had the Gers 1-0 up.

The former Brighton defender would add another later in the match and was an emphatic defensive force at the back end of the pitch, winning headers and commanding the team.

His partnership with Filip Helander is also developing into one of real strength.

Offensively, Connor is often the one to launch our attacks, his raking cross-field balls designed to bring the likes of Ryan Kent into play.

But even if this was Goldson’s day on Saturday, it could so easily have gone the other way with the most Connor Goldson of errors letting Celtic forward Mo Elyounoussi in on goal.

Goldson has been a man mountain for Rangers and undoubtedly forms part of the foundation of what the club has built over the last three years.

But the defender has let himself down with several high-profile mistakes, with his turn-and-panic against the Norwegian indicative of that fatal flaw sometimes in his game.

If Elyounoussi hadn’t missed there would be plenty criticising Goldson now.

It was also Connor Goldson’s slack pass which fed in Hibs for their equaliser in the 2-2 draw at Easter Road, a momentary blip in an otherwise perfect season for the player at Ibrox.

But nobody knows this more than Connor Goldson.

There’s undoubtedly been a development in the 27-year-old’s game and where fans will take solace is that these mistakes are being rubbed out one by one.

Goldson is becoming a better player, he is focusing on improving his concentration in these areas but as a result there will be plenty of eyes on him.

Those lapses have probably been the difference in him being a Premier League level defender and not but his recent performances over the piece will have the stopper showing up on plenty of radars.

As he approaches his best up north – and if we fail to tie him down on a new contract beyond 2022 – there could be plenty teams from the English top tier swirling come May too.