Jim White and Martin Keown clash over Allan McGregor save vs Slavia Prague
Jim White played the part of Rangers defender once again on his talkSPORT show after Martin Keown tried to downplay a key moment in the Slavia Prague match.
Allan McGregor’s remarkable save late on ensured a good result for the Gers, but Keown hesitated to applaud the keeper.
He also avoided praising Gers altogether until White stepped in and stood up for McGregor and his teammates.
On White’s Friday talkSPORT show, Keown said, “Although a very good one and important one [McGregor save] it wasn’t quite as demanding as the one Gordon Banks made from Pele all those years ago.”
White responded saying, “We’re just talking about the McGregor save I mean come on Martin, that was unreal wasn’t it?”
“Was it better than Gordon Banks’ save?” Keown asked.
“With all due respect to the late Gordon Banks I don’t quite know why he was brought into the equation … as a one-off save that was outstanding,” White replied.
“No less, it was a good night for Rangers,” Keown admitted, “and I think it’s really important for their qualification as well, for automatic qualification for the Champions League next season.”
Lack of respect
Rangers have been excellent this season and got another great result against Slavia Prague but some pundits still find it tough to give us the praise we deserve.
First, it was Simon Jordan saying Rangers only won the league because of Celtic.
Now it’s Keown, who is weirdly insistent on comparing the McGregor save with one hailed the best ever, rather than just judging it on its own merit.
We put nine goals past Royal Antwerp and have now managed a very good draw away from home – that is always difficult on the continent.
Slavia Prague beat Leicester City too, a team that have been raved about in England this year.
We were not at our best on Thursday yet still pulled off a result. That says a lot about the character of the team and that alone deserves praise.
The away goal gives us the advantage ahead of next week’s clash at Ibrox and hopefully reaching the quarter-final will finally lead to widespread respect for what we are achieving this season.
In other Rangers news, ‘Phenomenal’ – Kris Boyd claims £50m not enough to replace ‘outstanding’ Rangers star.