As Rangers narrowly overcame Hearts at Ibrox, Jambos skipper Lawrence Shankland showed up stuttering Ibrox pair Cyriel Dessers and Sam Lammers.
The Scotland international attacker, 28, might’ve even won the day for the Edinburgh club had his side managed to hold onto the 1-0 lead beyond the 90th minute.
As things transpired, Hearts midfielder Peter Haring gifted Rangers a penalty as the game wound to a close only for James Tavernier to convert.
A resurgent Rangers then scored the winner minutes later as masked man Danilo nodded in from a swinging cross from the Ibrox skipper to win the match 2-1.
It came after boos had once again met stuttering £8m duo Cyriel Dessers (£4.5m) and Sam Lammers (£3.5m) who are having their commitment and quality increasingly scrutinised by the game.
It’s a result and moment which threatens to have a huge impact on the Ibrox side’s Scottish Premiership title hunt with the gap at the top of the table cut to five points.
But if it had not been for the Ibrox late show then we’d likely be talking about how the decision not to sign now-Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland has once again cost the club big.
Lawrence Shankland catches eye for Hearts v Rangers
Rangers have been routinely linked with a move for the ex-Ayr United, Dundee United and Beerschot striker and in a commanding, experienced display, it’s easy to see why.
Rangers struggled to deal with the physicality and composure of Lawrence Shankland who held the ball up expertly for Hearts and who, for much of the game, had the Ibrox defence on toast.
Whilst the Jambos struggled to muster anything beyond their opening goal, Lawrence Shankland overcoming Ridvan Yilmaz to after only five minutes to put Hearts in front, every time the 28-year-old got on the ball he was an effective contributor.
There were back heels, physical link-up and a genuine confidence to Lawrence Shankland’s game which has plenty asking why Rangers turned their nose up at a deal.
With Cyriel Dessers and Sam Lammers toiling, it’s hard to argue that Lawrence Shankland wouldn’t have been a more solid alternative.
Rangers’ pomposity in the face of homegrown talent is also costing the club big when it comes to their European squad.
