Another defeat for Rangers as things don’t look like getting any better for now.
Barry Ferguson’s first home game as Gers boss ended in a 2-1 loss to Motherwell after losing two quick first half goals, like at Kilmarnock this week.
The difference this time was there was no roaring comeback after the break, with Cyriel Dessers‘ strike the only reply.
It’s the latest in a list of woeful results this season, but the first under Fergie and he insists he still has a plan to save the team from its struggles.
The interim boss also expects John Souttar to make a big difference to how things are going when he returns from injury again.
Jack Butland was hugely at fault for the Steelmen taking the lead, spilling what should’ve been a routine catch from Dan Casey’s strike, allowing Luke Armstrong to slide one in.
And Rangers fans have been calling for the keeper to be dropped and replaced by Liam Kelly for Thursday’s game against Fenerbahce.
But he was far from the only one who could have faults picked in them for the performance at Ibrox yesterday.
Cyriel Dessers and Robin Propper share blame for first Motherwell goal
Butland isn’t even the only one being blamed for the opening goal, with two defenders having their parts to play.
Cyriel Dessers took an awful touch after receiving a pass out from the keeper, allowing Motherwell to win the ball in a dangerous area.
And Robin Propper stayed far too deep, playing Armstrong onside which meant the VAR check concluded the goal was legit.
Michael Stewart wanted to highlight the pair as being just as culpable as Butland.
He told BBC Sportscene: “The goalkeeping error is the one that obviously catches the high there. But Cyriel Dessers’ heavy touch…terrible touch.
“And Robin Propper. Even if Rangers were to continue that attack and get up the park, Robin Propper is still at any point going to be five yards deeper than the rest of the team. He needs to get out.
“That to me is just indicative of Rangers and everything that is wrong with them. It was lacking in energy, it was flat.
“And Barry Ferguson was talking about that afterwards and that goal was a perfect example of it.”
James Tavernier and Jefte also have Rangers culpability
James Tavernier gave away possession in a defensive area with a terrible pass straight to Lennon Miller, who kickstarted a quick counter attack.
And then Jefte’s positioning was all over the shop to allow Tom Sparrow to be easily played in on the right hand side and finish.
Stewart went on: “They’re the architects of their own downfall here…Tavernier with a poor, lacking-in-concentration ball.
“But look at Motherwell, popping it about, comfortable, loads of space.
“What Jefte is doing, I have got no idea. He’s actaully tucking in and making that ball to Sparrow even easier.
“He’s turning and twisting and looking in all sorts of directions.
“We’ve seen this a number of times this season where he doesn’t have any instincts defensively.
“It’s just criminal. When that ball is getting popped about and it’s coming over to his side, he’s still narrowing off instead of starting to come out.
“He’s absolutely oblivious.”
