Michael Stewart blasts ‘terrible’ Rangers as BBC Sportscene shows footage in 3-2 win v Hibernian
Michael Stewart pulled no punches in his Rangers analysis this week, ripping into them for their “terrible” defending during the 3-2 win over Hibernian.
Michael Beale’s tenure at Ibrox started with a scrappy win over Hibernian on Thursday evening, with the 42-year-old forced to come from behind after letting in two early goals at Ibrox.
Ryan Porteous opened the scoring after eight minutes, and when Fashion Sakala levelled it up on the 15-minute mark, Kevin Nisbet put the visitors back in front just a minute later.
Stewart was complimentary of Rangers’ overall performance but insists the defending in the first half was nowhere near up to scratch.
“I think in the first half, the Rangers performance, it was notable that there was an increase in their energy levels. I thought that they were a lot more vibrant,” said Stewart via BBC Sportscene (17 December, 54:04)
“Terrible defending. That certainly puts a handbrake on the atmosphere.”
Back to the training ground
While Beale will be delighted to have marked his Rangers return with three points, he’ll have been eager to get back to Auchenhowie to work on some of the negatives he saw on display.
The overall attitude and application of the Gers squad were much better, and Beale clearly was able to fire up the squad at the halftime break.
But the attention to detail and focus in defence will be something he’ll want to improve as soon as possible. Conceding the first goal to Porteous was a matter of falling asleep at a set-piece and being overpowered by what was a brilliant header. But after Sakala’s equaliser, there is no way Rangers should be conceding again just a minute later. Regardless of the deflection, Nisbet was allowed in behind the defence too easily.
Having senior centre-backs return from injury will obviously help the matter, but it’s important that both James Sands and John Lundstram switch on in defence while they are deputising at centre-back.
Beale will be hoping for much more focus and awareness in defence when Rangers face a difficult trip to Aberdeen on Tuesday night.
In other Rangers news, Gordon Parks slams the ‘elementary’ defending against Hibernian this week