Rangers manager Steven Gerrard was somewhat reluctant to heap further praise on his number one, Allan McGregor, with the keeper showing his prowess once again.
In the first half of yesterday’s 4-1 win over Dundee United, the visitors were quite lively – particularly in the opening stages – and McGregor was called into action a few times.
The dressing room leader stood up tall once again, providing the base for his team to go on and impose themselves on the game.
Gerrard addressed his performance when asked, with a jovial retort as witnessed live by VitalRangers at the post match press conference:
“I’m sick of talking about Allan because he is outstanding all the time!”
“Obviously he has fantastic standards and I’ve said so many times how important he is to us, especially on days like today when you need your keeper to be big on the odd occasion, he’s always there for us.”
“Allan was outstanding again.”
Throughout the game, McGregor was a constant vocal force.
He was contesting almost every decision with the officials, not just the referee, with the linesmen on each side also getting an earful from the veteran stopper.
Winner
Late in the second half, the 39-year old was seething at conceding the consolation goal to Dundee United – only the second time this season that Rangers have not kept a clean sheet at home in the SPFL Premiership.
He was very sharp with Borna Barisic in particular, letting the Croatian know exactly how he felt about his role in the build-up to the goal from Marc McNulty.
It was a minor blip in the overall picture of the game but it is those standards and expectations. as alluded to by Gerrard, that set the tone and allows a winning mentality to emanate.
Allan McGregor has seen it, done it and got the t-shirt as a winner in his first spell at Ibrox, most notably under Walter Smith.
Gerrard is more than happy to let his key man utilise that experience to be a major positive influence on the rest of his squad.