£5m-rated Rangers defender Borna Barisic played like a scared child v Celtic
Rangers were comprehensively beaten in the Old Firm derby by Celtic on Wednesday (2 February) and one player, in particular, came under fire.
The 3-0 scoreline flattered Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side as the Hoops ran riot in the first half.
Goalkeeper Allan McGregor was to thank for a string of fine saves which stopped the flurry of goals getting out of hand.
Almost all of the joy for Celtic came down the Ranges left-hand side where Borna Barisic put in maybe the worst individual 45 minutes in football history.
The 29-year-old Croatian looked absolutely petrified of the ball and whenever he got possession, he was chased back towards his own goal and the rowdy Parkhead crowd soon got on his back.
He was also run ragged in defence and he was left embarrassed by Liel Abada for the third goal as he stood exactly still, like a statue, as the Hoops attacker waltzed around him to tap in Reo Hatate’s cross.
He was dragged off at half-time by van Bronckhorst but most Rangers fans might have wanted him to be replaced even earlier.
On the basis of that performance, you can’t see why Premier League Watford bid £2million for him in January and the Gers seem barmy to be asking for nearer £5million if that is what he does on the big stage [The Sun].
Leon Balogun replaced him at half-time which allowed Calvin Bassey to move out to left-back and things improved in the second half which could see the Barisic’s place in the side long gone.
Maybe the Light Blues would have been smart to cash in on the 29-year-old given Watford’s interest last month as they now looked laboured with a player who was like a scared young child watching a horror film when it mattered most.
In other Rangers news, Kris Boyd went berserk at half-time on Wednesday after the “abysmal” first-half display.