We all know the saying about statistics and how they can be interpreted, however, there is one just now that is doing Rangers absolutely no favours either on, or off the park.
One of the biggest debates during the summer was about who should start the season in goals after Allan McGregor was offered, and signed, an extension to his contract for another year – at this point, it was clear that there wasn’t going to be another senior goalkeeper brought in to the club.
After seven games in the league we have conceded just 19 shots on target, in itself, α very respectable total, after all, if you are stopping the opposition from shooting then you are reducing the chances of conceding α goal.
However…..
Between McGregor and Jon McLaughlin, Rangers keepers have the worst save percentage in the league at 57.9%, even Dundee United ar better off and they have conceded 20 goals in seven games.
One of the issues is that we have been conceding “big” chances. Livingston on day one, Hibs first goal, Dundee Utd’s consolation last weekend and pretty much all of Celtic’s goals – most of them coming from around or closer than the penalty spot.
So, for all that it is the keepers that are taking the brunt, the defence really needs to tighten up if we are to start keeping more clean sheets – especially away from home.
James Sands has been playing well, as has Leon King, but this break is an ideal opportunity for Ben Davies and Connor Goldson to start playing together, if the defence had been solid then I would be reluctant to change it, it’s just that we can see by looking at the stats and by watching games, that this simply isn’t the case.