Ibrox View: Quiet brilliance from Connor Goldson is real boost for Rangers title hopes
Rangers have been superb defensively so far this season.
Five Scottish Premiership matches have yielded five clean sheets this term, and a sixth consecutive shutout against Hamilton on Saturday evening would equal a record that has stood in Scottish football since 1906.
Obviously, that achievement has been a group effort, but in large part, the Gers have Connor Goldson to thank for their success.
The centre-back has been as solid as can be in the early stages of this season, but at first glance his stats suggest that he is actually doing less for the team than he was last season.
As per Wyscout, Goldson is making fewer clearances, fewer interceptions, and winning fewer aerial duels.
Crucially, however, the 27-year-old is winning a higher percentage of his defensive duels.
That catch-all term includes instances that don’t necessarily fall into the remit of any of the aforementioned categories – things such as tussles on the ball and hoovering up loose possession.
The fact that Goldson is making more of these interventions in a game is actually a really good thing.
In essence, it suggests that he is reading the game better and anticipating danger more effectively.
In the 0-0 draw against Livingston, for instance, he win 100% of his four defensive duels.
One low key moment of brilliance from Goldson exemplified the good work he is doing this season perfectly.
Early on in that match, the ball is lumped forward by a Livingston defender clearing his lines after a period of sustained Gers pressure.
What’s more, he finds his man perfectly, allowing the attacker to take the ball down on the edge of the centre circle.
Goldson is near him, but could easily allow him to lay it off, or even worse, turn him completely.
Instead, Goldson closes him down immediately.
The defender matches his man stride for stride and doesn’t allow the Livi man to get away from him at all.
The real key here, however, is the timing of the intervention.
Goldson nails it, pure and simple.
The experienced Ger gets nothing but ball, sending his man sprawling and standing tall afterwards.
Moreover, his tackle allows Glen Kamara to drop in and pick up the ball in a deep position, rekindling an attack that looked as if it was about to fizzle out.
These moments may not be eye-catching headline-stealers, but they are the meat and drink of a solid centre-half, and the more Goldson produce these interventions, the better it is for the Gers and their title hopes.
In other Rangers news, Bruce claims Rangers will want to ‘build team around’ this player.