BBC Sportscene pundit wowed by John Lundstram in Rangers v Motherwell
Shelley Kerr was blown away by John Lundstram’s performance at centre-half for Rangers on Sunday as they drew 2-2 with Motherwell at Ibrox.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst named Lundstram, 28, to start alongside Connor Goldson at the back despite having Leon Balogun and Borna Barisic on the bench, which meant that Calvin Bassey could’ve also played at centre-back.
While he’s naturally a midfielder, Lundstram impressed BBC Sportscene pundit Kerr for his display both defensively and at the other end of the pitch.
“He’s just strolled the game in that first half,” said Kerr at half-time on RangersTV on Sunday [27 February, 03:53pm].
“He doesn’t mind doing things simply, he can pick a pass out, he’s almost won everything in the air. He probably should’ve scored, he had a great chance but it was a really composed first half from him.
“You knew he’d come into that role seamlessly.”
Kerr added: “Do you know what? In the last few games, he’s been excellent. He’s been outstanding.”
Neil McCann admitted that he was wrong about Lundstram being better off played in the midfield rather than at centre-back.
He said: “I said that he’s never a centre-back, a centre-back would have scored that [headed chance in the first half]. But he’s been really, really good so I might’ve been a bit unfair on him.”
Experimenting?
Lundstram didn’t do badly against Motherwell at centre-back as, yet again, he was made to look infinitely better by the liability that is Goldson.
The ex-Brighton centre-back can be blamed for both of Motherwell’s second-half goals at Ibrox.
Lundstram could not have done more than he did, in all honesty, but the ex-Sheffield United man did look comfortable whenever he was tasked with dealing with the Steelmen’s attackers.
He was strong in the air and good with the ball at his feet. He just should’ve scored in the first half when he glanced a header wide that seemed a straightforward chance.
But we cannot help but feel it was wrong to experiment with the Rangers midfielder in the back-line.
Lundstram’s been so good in the midfield as of late so why wasn’t he played there when van Bronckhorst had other defensive options?
Joe Aribo and Scott Arfield struggled in an area where Lundstram has thrived as they were forced to drop back due to injuries to Ryan Jack and Aaron Ramsey, as well as Lundstram’s change of position.
Van Bronckhorst should’ve changed that as soon as he realised it wasn’t working – which was about five minutes into the second half.
In other Rangers news, an ex-FIFA official has warned of a major punishment after video evidence emerged from the draw with Borussia Dortmund at Ibrox.