BBC commentator rages at Rangers after incident in 1-0 loss v Kilmarnock
Kenny Macintyre has destroyed Rangers defending in their 1-0 defeat against Kilmarnock on the opening weekend of the Scottish Premiership.
The BBC Sportsound commentator slammed John Souttar and the Rangers defence for their “dreadful” defending, as they conceded the opening goal from a scramble.
Rangers had been put under early pressure even before the game even kicked off as their Old Firm and title rivals Celtic cruised to a 4-2 victory over Ross County to earn their first three points of the season.
Commentating for BBC Radio Scotland’s Sportsound show, Macintyre gave an immediate reaction to the goal [18:35], exclaiming: “It’s in. Kilmarnock have the goal, dreadful defending from Rangers.
“It was John Souttar who couldn’t get the ball out of his feet to knock it clear, and Kilmarnock send the ball into the back of the net.
“It’s a phenomenal scoreline here at Rugby Park.”
Start as you mean to go on
Rangers’ defending was suspect throughout pre-season, as they struggled to keep the ball out of their own net, conceding a number of calamitous goals which were largely of their own making. At the start of the season, this trend has continued.
They have once again been the architects of their own downfall under the guidance of Michael Beale, struggling to keep clean sheets despite the abundance of attacking talent brought to Ibrox this summer, bringing up the question – do they need a new focus?
Beale’s squad building has been called into question throughout the summer as a result of the unconditional backing he has received from the club, but as defensive issues continue to be an issue for the Glasgow club, the clear focus on strikers this summer may have been misplaced.
If defensive issues continue to persist as they have throughout this summer, and now into the opening of the SPFL season, questions will have to be asked about if these players are good enough to mount a strong title charge on their unstoppable rivals.
In other Rangers news, a BBC journalist has looked forward to the Old Firm fixtures this season with a “howitzer” claim.