Daily Record journalist issues blunt assessment of Rangers defence after Connor Goldson return

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Published on:

22 Dec 2022, 5:10 am

Daily Record journalist Andy Newport gave a damning summary of the Rangers defence even after Connor Goldson returned to the lineup against Aberdeen.

After witnessing a vulnerable and fragile Rangers defence for the last few months, Rangers fans were likely delighted to see Goldson return to the starting XI on Tuesday night.

However, the 30-year-old hardly settled down the Rangers backline, with James Sands enduring a night to forget against Aberdeen.

Michael Beale's side eventually claimed all three points with a last-gasp brace from Scott Arfield, but the defence remains an issue that needs addressing this season.

In an early assessment of Beale's time at Ibrox, Newport wrote in the Daily Record: "Connor Goldson made his big return after two months out injured but it still wasn’t enough to shore up a back-line that has swung open like a broken gate in a gale during his lay-off.

"It’s now just one clean sheet in the last nine matches for Gers."

Injuries are key

Neither Beale nor Giovanni van Bronckhorst has had it easy when it comes to injuries this season. With a fully-fit squad, there's a good chance the Dutchman would still be at Ibrox.

In particular, Rangers' defensive department has been plagued with setbacks, and Beale will be counting the days until he has both Goldson and Ben Davies available.

James Sands and John Lundstram have both been thrown into the deep end as makeshift centre-backs this season while Leon King's journey to the first team has been fast-tracked.

But it seems unfair to pin too much blame on that trio considering the tough circumstances and Rangers can't fairly be assessed until two natural centre-backs are back fit.

Davies made a short cameo off the bench against Aberdeen while Goldson got some valuable minutes back into his legs. Hopefully, the duo will be back side-by-side again sooner rather than later.

In other Rangers news, an official club partner reacts to fan footage from the win over Aberdeen

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Michael Beale