Ibrox View: Leon Balogun experiment is dead in the water after Rangers draw 1-1 v Celtic
Leon Balogun endured a torrid week for Rangers and Steven Gerrard must forget him as a full-back option after his Old Firm shocker.
After his red card indiscretion on Thursday against Slavia Prague Balogun must have been hoping for a quieter game against Celtic.
However with Nathan Patterson dropped to the bench the £14,000-per-week [SalarySport] ace was moved to right-back and was taught a lesson by Diego Laxalt down the wing.
He was also beaten by Odsonne Edouard for Celtic’s opener as he crossed for Mohamed Elyounoussi to score.
According to Wyscout Balogun lost possession 13 times on Sunday despite being substituted after 56 minutes. He has only lost the ball more on one occasion this season, against Dundee United [14 – February 21] and that was over 95 minutes of action.
A 57% defensive duel success was his worst performance of the season since December 6 [v Ross County] in this metric and a considerable drop down from his 73.6% Gers average this campaign.
Despite claiming the assist for Alfredo Morelos via a set-piece situation his attacking threat was minimal as he failed to record a successful cross or dribble.
Paterson, meanwhile, completed both crosses he attempted in his 38 minutes on the pitch and only lost possession three times.
The 19-year-old had started the previous four games since coming on for Balogun as a half-time substitute against Royal Antwerp on February 25 but was handed an Old Firm snub on Sunday.
Perhaps Gerrard was just protecting him after such a long spell out of the team caused by a combination of his involvement in the ‘Rangers Five’ and James Tavernier in front of him.
Tavernier is our captain and one of the main sources of goals in this team – without him in the team our attacking threat down the right is negated somewhat.
That is especially true with Balogun as his deputy and Tav has been missed during his seven-game injury lay-off.
Sunday’s Old Firm was fairly meaningless in the grand scheme of things but it reaffirmed one thing to us.
Balogun is not a full-back and it is an experiment that must be disbanded before next season.
If there are any long-term doubts over Tav Gerrard needs to either place his faith in Patto or secure a make a new signing in this position over the summer.
Otherwise Balogun will continue to cost us.
In other Rangers news, Michael Stewart thrilled by Ryan Kent in 1-1 draw v Celtic.