Steven Thompson reacts to Edson Alvarez goal in Ajax v Rangers
Steven Thompson has criticised Rangers defending as “unacceptable” as they trail Ajax 3-0 in the first half in the Champions League group stage opening game on Wednesday (7 September).
The home side clearly dominated the opening 45 minutes, and the Bears looked fish out of water in Europe’s top competition.
Edson Alvarez scored the opening goal for Ajax, while James Sands scored an own goal to give Ajax a 2-0 lead before Mohammed Kudus added another with a belter.
“It’s no more than they deserve – they’ve been by far the superior team. From a Rangers point of view, from set-plays it’s unacceptable to lose a goal from someone being unmarked or not picked up in the middle of the six-yard box,” said Thompson on BBC Sportsound, as relayed by BBC Sport.
Shambolic
After losing 4-0 against Celtic, many had thought that Rangers would put up a strong fight in Holland and prove a point that they are good enough at this level.
However, the first half was a disaster. The Bears could manage to string out five or six passes at a stretch, and they just chased the Ajax players like shadows.
They are now bereft of confidence, and it’s a nightmare situation for them. It could be a long long night for them, and let’s hope they don’t suffer a massive loss that breaks them down morally.
The problems with set-pieces have resurfaced again, and the first goal was a consequence of that.
Jurrien Timber got an easy header. He was unmarked. That was the first sign that Rangers were struggling. Then Alvarez scored a beauty.
Connor Goldson and James Tavernier had no clue about man-marking. It’s a school-boy error, and really unacceptable.
In other Rangers news, Michael Stewart got stuck into one player after what he did in the past week