Ally McCoist and Chris Sutton rage at ‘Appalling’ Rangers defending in Scottish Cup semi-final v Celtic
Ally McCoist and Chris Sutton were both raging at the state of the Rangers defending for Celtic’s goal in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park.
In a fiercely contested game it was an error by several players that saw Celtic go ahead at the end of the first-half when the team stopped for a foul that never was, allowing Jota to sneak in at the back post and head home.
And reacting to the goal instantly on commentary for Viaplay 1 (30 April, 14:16), Sutton and McCoist were audibly angry at the state of the defending that was branded “a shocker” and “appalling” by the duo.
“Rangers fell asleep there,” Sutton said.
“Yep, 100%” McCoist replied instantly. “Two or three of them fall asleep. Ryan Kent first of all, Kent switches off. He’s the first one that switches off.”
“Tavernier just lets Jota run off him at the back post,” Sutton added. “He can’t miss the header, he just puts it back across McGregor. It’s the simplest of finishes. But that’s a shocker of a goal for Rangers to concede.”
“It’s remarkable it really is,” McCoist said.
“Play to the whistle but even then, Tavernier letting Jota get inside him,” Sutton continued.
“Absolutely Chris, it’s an appalling goal for Rangers point of view. It really was. The delivery was excellent. But they’ve completely switched off,” McCoist claimed.
Schoolboy
You’d be forgiven for being annoyed if your Under-11’s team conceded a goal in the manner Rangers did today, so you can imagine the anger at doing it in a Scottish Cup semi-final.
The players almost expected a foul to be given against Barisic despite his insistence he did nothing, and nobody moved.
Then the skipper goes to sleep at the back post and allows a free header inside the six-yard box for Celtic to take the lead. It’s just unacceptable at this level when the margins are so slim.
The first rule you learn after not being allowed to use your hands is that you play to the referee’s whistle, and the fact they didn’t do that has now arguably cost the team a trophy and handed our biggest rivals a treble on a platter.
It’s pathetic and another sign that too many of these players are stealing a living at Ibrox right now.
In other Rangers news, our player ratings from the Scottish Cup semi-final clash with Celtic.