By George Overhill

1st May, 2022 | 2:40pm

Rangers scorer Fashion Sakala infuriates Ally McCoist with first-half play at Celtic

Rangers legend Ally McCoist was left frustrated and disappointed by his former side’s player Fashion Sakala for a first-half sequence against Celtic.

With the Hoops leading 1-0 from a Jota goal mid-way through the opening period, and in control of the game after a strong Gers start, the 25-year-old found himself in space on a break down the right hand side.

But indecision saw him eventually closed down by Carl Starfelt, with the challenge resulting in a goal kick when there was attacking support in the middle.

Speaking on the Sky Sports match commentary (Sunday May 1, 12.33pm), McCoist said: “It’s really poor from Sakala, really poor. Rangers had a three on two there. He’s got to do better.”

The Zambian forward did score the visitors’ only goal of the game in the second half, slamming in a perfectly-placed low finish at Joe Hart’s near post from a Ryan Kent layoff.

But when clean through with the chance to win it late on, he opted to go for the near post again and only struck the post in what was a game that showed the best and worst of the Light Blues attacker.

Mercurial

The Old Firm draw quite effectively encapsulated Sakala’s time at Ibrox, as it showcased his decisive attacking ability as well as his frustrating inconsistency.

It has become somewhat of a pattern for him to take some time to grow into games which he starts.

And it was no different today, as the wasteful sequence that disappointed McCoist so much was part of an indifferent display in the first half.

Then, true to form, it was Sakala who was central to everything when the Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men forced their way back into the game late on.

His finished for the equaliser was unerring, yet in the same way his first season at the club probably should be considered a qualified success, so was his overall performance at Parkhead.

Late on it was again Sakala who was providing the attacking outlet that Joe Aribo had been unable to, but having got himself in position to snatch a massive win, he went so close but somehow didn’t score.

The summer signing provides plenty of good to the team, but there are signs that it could be so much more, and fans will have to hope he can unlock that next season.

In other Rangers news, it was deja vu for one player in a nightmare show against Celtic.