I hoped he would do it but didn’t think he would – when Michael Beale dropped Allan McGregor for Jon McLaughlin, a part of me breathed a sigh of relief.
The Rangers number 1 is the second worst performing keeper in the league in terms of statistics, then there is the hesitancy to come for through balls and crosses that has now spread to those that are low and within his reach.
Speaking before the game, Beale revealed that McLaughlin’s more aggressive approach was why he had been selected and that defending set-pieces was an aspect of the game they were looking at to restrict Dundee United.
Michael Beale on starting McLaughlin over McGregor
"I just feel Jon is in a good place, he has been training well, biding his time and had an excellent game [last time] against Ross County. Jon is very strong at deadballs and can help us with that."
— Joshua Barrie (@JoshuaBarrieRR) January 8, 2023
McLaughlin made a good save at 0-0 in Dingwall and he did the same at Tannadice, diving low in the 23rd minute to stop a cross that would have found it’s way into the back of the net but for his intervention – I’m confident enough to say that McGregor would have left it and been scrambling across his line as he tried to deal with the shot.
That’s two clean sheets for McLaughlin in two games under Beale, both away from home too. If you put his last 40 games and McGregor’s last 40 together then there is only one winner, even this season the deputy has better numbers – the current keeper should keep the gloves and the starting jersey until we find a long-term successor.
I’m old enough to have seen Chris Woods, Andy Goram, Stefan Klos and Allan McGregor have bad games and not get written off – McLaughlin isn’t on their level but he has been unfairly treated this season, fans needing scapegoats and targets when things weren’t going well. He had a stinker at Parkhead, but who didn’t?
Liverpool’s Alisson made an almost identical mistake only this weekend, it’s a risk of playing out from the back and something we need to get used to. Good keepers don’t grow on trees and one that has only let us down once in 40-odd games shouldn’t be cast aside because of an off day.