Steven Gerrard has hailed “outstanding” St. Mirren ahead of their visit to Ibrox tonight – and believes the clash between the two sides was the “making of” Borna Barisic as a Rangers player.
Jim Goodwin’s side made things tough for the Gers when they met earlier in the season, with Barisic scoring a vital free-kick, and Gerrard expects similar tonight.
“St Mirren didn’t really open up against us at their place either. We take it as a compliment in many ways that people respect our quality,” Gerrard said, as quoted by the Daily Record.
“St Mirren are going to set us a challenge for 90 minutes and say to us, ‘Come and beat us’.
“We respect that. I thought they were outstanding in the last fixture and there were moments in that game when I thought two points could have been taken away from us because of their organisation and shape.
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“At a club like this you need big players to provide big moments of quality and Borna delivered in the last game. That was the making of Borna in many ways. It shows what a big goal can do.”
Since his goal in Paisley, Barisic has really stepped his game up and is now arguably the in-form full-back in Scottish football.
The Croatian international has put in a string of stunning performances to turn his Rangers career around after looking destined for the exit.
He’ll almost certainly have a massive role to play tonight against the Buddies and another set-piece goal from him would be very much welcomed.