Scott Arfield has apologised on behalf of both himself and his teammates for failing to see out the last 20 minutes of the 2-2 draw with Hibs when they were in front.
The Daily Record reported the Canada captain’s post match interview during which he also highlighted a key moment later in the game where he had a great chance to win all three points for his team.
When asked for his thoughts on the match that sees his side return to the top of the table, albeit with Celtic having a game in hand, he said:
“I had my own double chance at the end and should finish the game off and I apologise for that as one of them should go in, but we shouldn’t get to that stage I don’t think – the game should have been seen out.
“Game management is huge, particularly in this league, but when you work so hard to get there, you need to see it out. We have to be tougher and more on it if we want to be successful.
“It was disappointing and I think everyone watching the game and associated with the club will find it a difficult one to take.
“We have worked so hard to get in front, but you need to see the game out and finish it off, but we never managed to do so and it’s hard to take.”
In fairness to Arfield, the chance he was talking about was a difficult one to take first time and then Ofir Marciano made a ridiculous save to stop the rebound from going in, nobody would have begrudged Rangers all three points had the 31-year old been able to squeeze it past the Israeli.
Who do you blame for dropping points?
Officials
Defence
Arfield for missing chances at 2-2
But he is right, Rangers should have seen the game out once they got 2-1 in front, they didn’t have to push for another goal and would have been forgiven for sitting in and hitting the Easter Road side on the counter attack.
It was always going to be a tense season and we were never going to win every game, yes, it is a sore one to drop points but against the most in form team outside of the Old Firm, away from home, if not forgivable, is at least easier to understand.