Ibrox View: 0 shots, 1 dribble – Rangers star has horror show in clash v St Johnstone
He has proved to be one of the main men this campaign but Rangers forward Kemar Roofe produced one of his most disappointing displays of the season v St Johnstone.
With 10 Scottish Premiership goals to his name alongside a further two in the Europa League, including that miraculous effort from inside his own half, Roofe has endeared himself to Gers supporters worldwide and has been an inspired signing by Steven Gerrard.
However after starting his first match since hobbling off at half-time in the 1-0 Old Firm victory over Celtic on January 2, the 28-year-old failed to fire v St Johnstone in his 65 minutes on the pitch before he was hauled off.
Roofe was involved in the biggest talking point of the match in the first half after his studs-up challenge midway through the opening period earned him a yellow card.
In truth it could have been much worse and he can count himself lucky.
He was fortunate not to have cost the side after this unnecessary show of ill-discipline early on in the game but it was his lack of attacking verve that will have concerned Gers supporters more.
Despite Gerrard’s side registering nine shots in the game none of these came from Roofe as he was unable to get into dangerous positions against a team that was happy to defend in their droves.
His sole attempt at a dribble was unsuccessful while he suffered the worst passing accuracy (71%) in the whole Rangers team, failing to make a key one at that [WhoScored].
Three unsuccessful touches and a 20% aerial success rate (won a single header out of five attempts) were further examples of Roofe’s poor efforts on Wednesday.
He was the first player taken off for the Gers as Gerrard opted to send Cedric Itten on for his under-performing star.
It really was a lacklustre display from a player we have become so accustomed to seeing light up Ibrox this season.
We will give him the benefit of the doubt that this was merely an off-night and a result of rustiness following a recent injury that saw him sit out January games v Aberdeen and Motherwell before being left on the bench against Ross County.
However we will expect to see Roofe back on fire when the Gers travel to Hamilton on Sunday with the team still without the suspended Alfredo Morelos.
In other Rangers news, many Bears have the same thing to say about this 24-year-old’s display v St Johnstone.