Rangers: Scott Allan doubles down on ‘excellent’ Todd Cantwell live on BBC Sportscene after Celtic defeat
Scott Allan was again full of praise for Rangers midfielder Todd Cantwell after he followed up his match-winning strike against Aberdeen with another goal and a huge performance in defeating Celtic.
The former Hoops midfielder had called the 25-year-old’s finish at Ibrox to down the Dons “absolutely fantastic” a week ago, and after he fired through Joe Hart’s legs in the opening minutes to set his side on the way to a 3-0 win this week Allan branded it “excellent”.
Michael Beale’s first signing as Rangers boss is starting to emerge as a key man in the new generation for the Light Blues and was vital to capturing an Old Firm win at the final attempt this season, leaving Allan highly impressed.
Speaking on BBC Sportscene on Saturday night (13 May, 12m 15s) Allan said: “I think Cantwell, again, another step up from last week’s performance we spoke about previously.
“This is excellent, it’s a great finish. From a Celtic point of view, very poor switching off, but Cantwell’s shown the quality that the Rangers fans have come to expect of him.”
Talisman
The goals help on any occasion but Cantwell’s performance in the derby was so much more than that, as he set the tone on the pitch and got the fans going in the stands.
It was in many ways the perfect Old Firm showing, and while it was only able to deliver a consolation win this season it bodes well for the next.
With other players who are set to be part of the Beale side going forward also key, as Robby McCrorie kept another clean sheet in goal, John Souttar headed his first for the club, and Nico Raskin was strong in midfield, there is the makings of a formidable unit.
But it shouldn’t paper over the cracks of what has been a dismal campaign over all, and the summer transfer business is no less important for the win.
Uplifting though beating Celtic obviously is, it’s ultimately only what should be expected of this team, and certainly when the opponents switch up their XI.
So it was job done against Ange Postecoglou for once, and Cantwell’s recent breakout in form is hugely encouraging, but it is still just the start of a very important building process.
In other Rangers news, Chris Sutton got as good as he could give in a squabble with a Gers fan live on BBC radio, as Robbie Savage stepped in to apologise.