With Europa League action looming, there is still time left for Rangers to save their season, with the Old Firm side hoping to emulate – and better – their European heroics in 2022 by reaching the competition’s showpiece in May.
In essence, the upcoming tie against Athletic Bilbao represents all that is left to play for at Ibrox for the remainder of the campaign, with the Light Blues having tumbled out of title contention in the Premiership.
Frustratingly for interim boss Barry Ferguson, his side have failed to build on the recent dramatic derby triumph, with Saturday seeing the Glasgow giants slip to a fifth successive defeat on home soil Hibernian.
That 2-0 loss – which was followed by a shock 1-0 defeat for Celtic away at bottom side St Johnstone – has only served to epitomise what has been a miserable domestic campaign at Ibrox, with the gap now at 13 points between the division’s top two.
Such woes have perhaps not been helped by the uncertainty surrounding the permanent manager role and the impending 49ers takeover, with it set to represent a real summer of change for the Gers in all departments.
Indeed, Saturday’s setback showcased once again why the playing squad is also in need of major surgery…
Rangers' worst performers vs Hibs
First and foremost, it proved to be another frustrating day for the polarising Cyriel Dessers in attack, with the experienced striker looking back to his former self with a profligate display against the Edinburgh side.
The Nigerian striker – who notably scored in the first-leg win over Fenerbahce – had scored four across his last four league games heading into the weekend clash, although went on to squander two big chances as the hosts failed to make the breakthrough.
The £27k-per-week striker notably saw his effort denied from the angle after being teed up by skipper, James Tavernier, before then lashing over the bar following a clever, threaded pass from Hamza Igamane.
Minutes played
88
Touches
24
Shots on target
1
Shots off target
2
Big chances missed
2
Pass accuracy
85%
Key passes
0
Ground duels won
3/6
Aerial duels won
0
Possession lost
5x
Offsides
3
Stats via Sofascore
Aside from that moment of quality, meanwhile, it proved to be a ‘completely anonymous performance’ from young Igamane – as per The Scotsman’s Mark Atkinson, with the Old Firm hero notably squandering possession on 20 occasions from just 54 touches, as per Sofascore.
Elsewhere, it was also a grim outing for the members of Ferguson’s backline, with promising full-back, Jefte, having looked off the boil down the left, having failed to complete any of his five attempted crosses, while also losing the ball 18 times in a desperate bid to create for his side.
The Brazilian – and his defensive colleagues – were almost comically undone for the game’s clincher as Martin Boyle was afforded acres of space to run into, with the Australian star duly converting through the legs of Jack Butland, epitomising what was another rough afternoon for the Gers’ number one.
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With Dessers failing to fire at one end, Ferguson and co weren’t helped by the woes of the Englishman at the other end, with Butland failing to keep out Dylan Levitt’s deflected strike as the Easter Road side surged into the lead.
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In isolation, that mistake from the £25k-per-week stopper could be accepted, although the ex-Crystal Palace man has now produced a string of gaffes that have proved costly for his side in recent months.
The 32-year-old had initially looked like a real coup following his free transfer arrival back in the summer of 2023, having ended that debut season as something of a shining light for the Gers, after keeping 18 clean sheets and conceding just 32 goals in the league.
Such inspired form even led to calls for Butland to be selected in England’s Euro 2024 squad, with Rangers icon Graeme Souness among those tipping the experienced ‘keeper to be on the plane to Germany:
“Jack Butland is a top goalkeeper and I personally think, because I live in England and watch more English games than Scottish games, he should be in the mix for going to the Euros,” Souness said.
“I think he’s every bit as good as any England goalkeeper that’s out there at the moment, if not better. Pickford is in the box seat so it’s his shirt for the moment. But Jack is a top class performer.”
Unfortunately for Butland, that call never came, with it now looking increasingly unlikely that international recognition will come his way any time soon, with Saturday’s mistake just the latest in a catalogue of errors in 2025.
Journalist Josh Bunting notably stated back in late December, following the 2-2 draw with Motherwell, that Butland was in a “real rut of form”, having begun to look “so shaky with each passing game”.
Indeed, the one-time Manchester United loanee proceeded to punch the ball into his own net against his former side in the 2-1 loss at Old Trafford, while more recently, he could only spill the ball straight into the path of Dundee striker, Simon Murray, in that 4-3 thriller.
Of course, Butland did enjoy the highs of his penalty shoot-out heroics against Fenerbahce, although considering his status among the club’s highest earner – and the fact that he was signed on a free – the 49ers regime may deem it wise to try and cash in on the 2023 arrival this summer in order to secure a profit.
Yes, perhaps he is merely a victim of the wider issues that are currently impacting Rangers, although at a time when no one should be safe from the axe, Butland may find himself nudged toward the exit door.
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