Former Rangers player, Alan Hutton, has praised Steven Gerrard for his selection of Steven Davis in Sunday’s Old Firm victory.
Speaking to Football Insider, Hutton picks out why it was such an inspired move by the Ibrox gaffer as his side secured all three points.
So what has Hutton said?
Reflecting on his performance at Parkhead, Hutton was effusive in his praise of the record breaking Northern Ireland international and of Gerrard:
“I think it’s a masterstroke again from Steven Gerrard, getting his tactics right, his team selection right and to bring him back in”.
“He really drove the team on, went under the radar, did all the things that he had to do, right place, right time, got things going. He was really a standout performer”.
Was Hutton correct?
Davis was instrumental in Rangers performance, his positional sense was outstanding as he acted as a screen for the back four.
There is also no better definition of being in the “right place, right time” than his two goal-line clearances from Christopher Jullien’s headers.
Davis, at 35-years-old, has matured as a player and benefited by his years in the Premier League, he is Rangers metronome as he dictates play from the middle of the park, he has played 27 games already this season which is testament to his professionalism – only missing games due to an injury suffered from a dangerous tackle by Aberdeen’s Sam Cosgrove.
Davis signed a new deal earlier in the season which sees him through to the summer of 2021 and few would put it past him to be around even longer such has been his impact in his second spell with the club.
Against Celtic, it would have been easy for Gerrard to stick with the same team that had Scott Arfield in midfield as he had been performing well and the Light Blues had been getting results.
Is Steven Davis a better play now or in his first spell at Rangers?
First spell
Present day
Hutton is right though, it was a masterstroke making the change of personnel, Davis’ performances have made him one of the first names on the team sheet this season as the Ibrox side look to end their barren years in their quest for title 55 and he was at his influential best once more against their fiercest rivals at the weekend.