Sutton rubbishes McCoist’s claim about McGregor save for Rangers
Chris Sutton has rubbished Ally McCoist’s claim that Allan McGregor’s save for Rangers on Thursday night was one of the best ever.
Whenever the discussion about the greatest saves of all time is brought up, most people point to England legend Gordon Banks’ save to deny Pele scoring for Brazil at the 1970 World Cup.
However, McGregor’s put himself among the discussion now after he made an incredible save to stop Slavia Prague netting a late winner against the Gers in the Europa League last-16 on Thursday night.
From Slavia Prague’s corner, Lukas Masopust powered a header towards goal from the penalty spot.
It seemed to be finding the bottom corner before McGregor got down low and with the ball behind him, managed to scoop it forward and hold onto it.
Ex-Rangers player and manager McCoist cannot stop waxing lyrical about the 39-year-old goalkeeper but former Celtic man Sutton has dampened the Ibrox legend’s claims.
Speaking on BT Sport’s Scottish Football Extra on Friday night, Sutton asked: “You’re putting McGregor’s save up there with Banks? Yes or no?”
McCoist replied after being pressed: “Yes.”
Sutton looked away surprised and said: “Wow. It was good, he’s a brilliant goalkeeper but you’re putting it up there – the ball was much further behind Banks than McGregor and the fact that he held it, there wasn’t enough power on the header.”
Ibrox legend McCoist was in complete shock at Sutton’s response and simply laughed in his face.
Bitter Sutton
Of course, Sutton is an Englishman is bound to show bias towards Banks’ save to deny Pele from scoring at the 1970 World Cup.
But, come on. Both saves were very similar but McGregor managed to hold onto Masopust’s header. Banks had to divert Pele’s header out for a corner.
One thing we have to admit that one was against Pele in one of the greatest Brazil teams of all time at one of the greatest ever World Cups. McGregor’s save was against Slavia Prague in the Europa League but that’s not the point.
If you take each save on their own merit, McGregor’s could easily go down as the best of all time if Banks’ is considered the same way.
Sutton just doesn’t want to admit that because of his ties to Celtic. He could only dream about his former club having a goalkeeper half as good as McGregor. If they did, they wouldn’t be so far behind the Gers in the Premiership table.
Sutton must have had the week from hell with everything happening at Rangers at the moment.
It’s beautiful. Make sure you savour it, Gers fans.
In other Rangers news, Stephen Craigan was blown away by this “terrific” outfielder at Slavia Prague on Thursday.