The Premier Sports Cup tie with Queen of the South was always about getting to the next round and for fringe players to, potentially, stake a claim for more minutes, that so many academy stars got a run out and their first team debuts is an added bonus.
One player who started and has hardly been seen this season is Fashion Sakala, linked with a move to France and with interest from Burnley, the Zambian international is now behind Rabbi Matondo and Scott Wright for a place in Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s plans.
It was a typically bi-polar performance from Sakala, involved in two goals but also gifted the opposition an equaliser with a loose back pass, a trend that continued throughout the game and, speaking on Premier Sports, via Glasgow Live, Gers legend Ally McCoist has highlighted one area in particular where he needs to improve when asked if he thinks the forward will stay:
“If they get someone not, maybe not (stay at Rangers).
“If they don’t, he probably will. I still think Rangers are a little bit light in the forward areas. Once he gets his half-yard, that’s where he has to show the composure.
“He initially does well to get that half yard. But a top-class finisher curls an effort into the top corner. He does well to get the half yard but he needs to show more composure in front of goal.”
McCoist is right, Sakala had one moment where he did the hard work and had a clear sight of goal only to shoot almost straight at the keeper, his passing in the attacking third was better but he looked every inch a player who had only one minute of competitive football before kick-off.
Where we are in a good position with Sakala is that he arrived on a Bosman and, in the right team, he would be an asset, however, it’s looking increasingly likely that that team won’t be Rangers.