Rangers vs Hearts: Tom English questions Philippe Clement comments on Connor Goldson
BBC Scotland writer Tom English cast doubt over what Philippe Clement had to say about Connor Goldson ahead of the Rangers versus Hearts tie.
Goldson was a surprise omission from the Gers’ starting line-up for Sunday’s (21 April) Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park.
Asked about that decision by BBC Scotland ahead of the game, Clement explained it was down to fitness reasons.
Clement added that he planned to leave Goldson out against Dundee in midweek, but Leon Balogun fell ill and that changed his plans.
Responding to those comments, however, English said via the BBC’s live text blog [21 April, 2:46pm]: “Are we all buying that?
“Sure, Goldson has played in 48 of Rangers’ 52 games this season, but most lately, he’s looked really vulnerable.
“Is that tiredness or is just him being targeted and exposed? Six goals conceded in their last three games tells its own story.
“There’s no way Clement is going to say that the demotion of one of his most senior, previously undroppable, players is a form issue, but it has to be the reason.”
Philippe Clement springs team selection surprise vs Hearts
Goldson has indeed looked off it of late and his absence against Hearts, while surprising on the face of it, had perhaps been coming.
It was the first time in 17 matches that the centre-back was left out of the starting line-up, coming in what was a truly massive clash for the Gers.
Clement has showed he is not afraid to make big decisions and this was very much one of those.
As English says, it was surely a case of Goldson being dropped, rather than rested. You do not rest key players for games of this magnitude.
If nothing else, this is a further message to the Rangers regulars that if your levels drop, you risk spending a spell out of the side.
Goldson now knows he simply has to regain his top levels if he is to regain his place and become a regular starter again.
In other Rangers news, Gordon Dalziel made a transfer claim regarding Lawrence Shankland prior to the Hearts game.
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