Rangers duo accused of 'cardinal sin' against Livingston as schoolboy error sparks growing concern
Rangers edged out a win at the weekend on Premiership business but it was far from easy.
Two Rangers stars have been told they must improve after a glaring error in Saturday’s narrow Premiership win against Livingston.
The Light Blues won 2-1 in a game dominated by controversy, after the Lions were not awarded a penalty after defender Emmanuel Fernandez looked to have handled the ball inside Rangers’ penalty area. A summer signing from Peterborough United, his header and Mohamed Diomande’s second half effort were enough to cancel out a Tete Yengi opener on a day where Danny Rohl’s side were below par.
Injuries have left his side depleted and at the back, Wolves loanee Nasser Djiga and Fernandez were a new centre-back pairing. They were undone by one Stevie May lob for the Livi leveller and club hero Neil McCann, who was a coach at Rangers in the second half of last term, says it’s something the duo simply can’t allow.
Neil McCann on Rangers error in win vs Livingston
He said of the Wolves loanee and summer import on Sportscene: “I mean you have to cut them a bit of slack, they've not played together, really. They've got no communication level right now, no chemistry, but Yengi really did give them a bit of bother. It’s a cardinal sin for me. Stevie May, I mean when he clips that ball, before he even gets it he has a look up.
“Now you're taught as a young boy that when somebody, there's no pressure on the ball as a centre-back, you should be dropping off the ball, they don't. They're not close enough together, they're not working one front, one back. It's an absolutely first-class touch.
“Look at this, killed, and it's a brilliant little finish, but again, it was just working on counter-attacks for Livingston, but he was a threat. If you're going to be playing up top yourself, you've got to try and get your team into the game.
What injuries are Rangers dealing with right now?
“You've got to try and get hold of the ball where at least your midfielders, and they've got good midfielders. Stevie May and Pittman getting in touch and just trying to get up the pitch, and I thought he was a real handful for the two boys at the back.
“I think it is (defensive concern with John Souttar and Dean Cornelius out). I don't know how long these injuries are going to be. Obviously John went off in the Scotland game, and Derek Cornelius coming back from international duty injured as well, and it will be a concern. The more these guys play, obviously, the better they should become.”
Next up for Rangers is a Europa League clash with Braga, having already lost four straight games in the league phase of UEFA’s second tier competition. Then it’s a return to league duty this Sunday against an in-form Falkirk side but Rangers do not have their injury issues to seek. The likes of Cornelius, Souttar and Tottenham loanee Mikey Moore are amongst those set to be unavailable.”