Neil McCann raves about Ross McCausland in Rangers defeat v Celtic as Ibrox teammates blasted on Sportscene
Neil McCann has lauded Ross McCausland as “one of Rangers’ best” plauers against Celtic as his teammates failed to impress in the Old Firm derby.
The 20-year-old was a bright spark in the Gers attacking line as his teammates continued to rue missed chances against Celtic to close the gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.
The former Rangers star did not hold back as he blasted the Rangers frontline but was full of praise for the young McCausland experiencing his first taste of the Old Firm derby.
“I thought Ross McCausland, the young man, coming into this environment was one of Rangers’ best,” McCann said on BBC’s Sportscene on Saturday (30 December).
“I felt [Abdallah] Sima was quiet today, [Cyriel] Dessers was off it, [Todd] Cantwell… well we’ve already spoken about him. Three of the front four were not at it. McCausland was the main threat.”
A frustrating performance at the worst time
In such a key fixture in the season, you expect your senior, most experienced players to step up to the occasion but that was the opposite of what happened versus Celtic at Celtic Park on Saturday.
While McCausland pushed his side forward with darting runs and threatening shots, Dessers and Cantwell shied away from the challenge and put on some of the worst performances all season.
Sima can be excused, however. Having scored 14 goals in 32 appearances this campaign, it can be forgotten that the Brighton loanee is only 22 years old and is having his first real taste of top-tier football.
The youngster was extremely quiet up against Alistair Johnston but was still able to create chaos for the Celtic right-back on what was an off-day for the Senegalese winger.
The Hoops are now unbeaten at home to Rangers in four attempts, with Rangers posing little to no danger going forward until James Tavernier’s incredible free-kick strike just two minutes from the full 90.
In other Rangers news, a Gers player let himself down with something he did in the first half against Celtic.