Steven Gerrard made 15 Rangers signings in the summer transfer window and not one of them have been more important to our season than Allan McGregor.
Arriving on a free transfer just days after Gerrard’s appointment was made official at Ibrox, the goalkeeper has been absolutely crucial to the progress made this season and the competition he’s excelled in most has been the UEFA Europa League.
From his one-on-one save against FK Shkupi away from home in the qualifying rounds through his denial of FC Ufa in the playoffs to his world class performance at home to Villarreal, McGregor has at times been the only thing keeping us competitive at home and abroad.
That’ll be the case again tonight when Rangers take to the pitch in Vienna looking for a win to progress to knockout stages of the competition. With three points needed, all eyes are on Gerrard’s team selection and the blend of attacking players he will look to get the job done against our Austrian hosts.
When the final whistle blows though, I’ll be amazed if it’s not McGregor’s name Rangers fans are hailing – win, lose or draw.
Vienna also need a result to get through to the last 32 and so pressure on the Gers defence is expected, a defence that has been found lacking in recent fixtures. Any positive result found in Austria is going to again come off the back of the Scotland international’s heroics between the sticks.
The question is can his teammates also rise to the occasion and put together a performance worthy of European plaudits? Performances have notably deteriorated in recent weeks and we must return to the intensity found in the previous win over Vienna at Ibrox to even have a chance of going through.
McGregor hasn’t let us down this season and we need the rest of Gerrard’s starting eleven to start showing that leadership.
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