The Allan McGregor farewell tour continues to be something of a rollercoaster ride, the heroics of Belgrade followed up by a return to domestic difficulties at Dens Park.
We conceded just one shot on target against Dundee and yet, after six minutes, still managed to find ourselves behind to a goal scored from no more than a yard out and almost in the middle of the goal, it was a good ball in, but it should have been dealt with.
The issue has been largely overlooked because we won and there is the obligatory outrage about us getting a penalty decision but, again, McGregor has shown his vulnerability from cross balls.
His positioning just before the ball comes in is ok, his front post isn’t in any real danger so he could have stepped off or gone backwards but it is his lack of footwork that has been his undoing.
WOW! 😲
Christie Elliot scores on his first Dundee appearance under Mark McGhee to give the hosts a shock lead! 💥 pic.twitter.com/zM5Umi63iP
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) March 20, 2022
Before the cross comes in he looks as though he isn’t anticipating it and that he is assuming Aaron Ramsey will either get a block in or it will be shanked out for a goal kick, this causes him to slip when he realises the ball is heading towards him because he has to react – rather than being ready – and is never in a position to get off the ground and tip the ball away – Ryan Kent should never have to be challenging for headers under his own crossbar in any circumstances, especially not against a 6ft plus defender.
It’s a situation that we have seen too many times this season and for all that we will undoubtably miss him in the big games when his shot stopping ability is more important, having a keeper who deals with corners, set pieces and crosses more comfortably will see us concede fewer goals in the league and not have us needing to scramble to get back into games.