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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Liam Bryce

Kris Commons rips into Rangers as he slams Gio van Bronckhorst decision that left Ibrox star 'chewing a wasp'

Kris Commons admits he's baffled by Allan McGregor being relegated to back-up status at Rangers.

The pundit and former Celtic star has ripped into the Ibrox side following their derby dismantling at Parkhead on Saturday. Giovanni van Bronckhorst named Jon McLaughlin his new number one at the start of the season despite the club handing a new contract to the 40-year-old McGregor. McLaughlin endured a torrid afternoon at Celtic Park, one that culminated in passing the ball straight to David Turnbull to gift Ange Postecoglou's rampant team a fourth goal.

Commons insists making McLaughlin first pick was a poor choice from Van Bronckhorst and noted that McGregor "looked like he was chewing a wasp" when his team-mate's blunder led to Turnbull striking Celtic's fourth. Writing in his Daily Mail column, Commons was also puzzled by the decision to play Steven Davis ahead of Ryan Jack and says it's now time for McGregor to be restored to Rangers' starting line-up.

He said: "McLaughlin just doesn't have the same aura and I'm truly astonished that he's playing ahead of McGregor. Look, you might well question why Rangers didn't try to sign a younger keeper in the summer but you can't dispute that McGregor knows what it takes to fill that jersey.

"After the Scottish Cup final, it did seem like he was set to retire. But once you offer him a new contract, you have to play him. There was a moment after the fourth goal went in on Saturday when the camera panned to the Rangers dug-out.

"Although, as you can probably imagine, while Giovanni van Bronckhorst didn't look too pleased, McGregor looked like he was chewing on a wasp. I'm not saying that he would definitely have saved all of the first three goals but he would certainly have had a chance. As for the fourth? Dear me.

"I can only imagine what McGregor was thinking sat on the bench, his team losing 4-0 and there's nothing he can do about it. If I was him, I'd be knocking on the manager's door and saying: 'I've had enough.'

"Some decisions are hard for a manager but this isn't one of them. It's quite simple really. The best goalkeeper in that building at the moment is Allan McGregor. Fact.

"You play your best players. Listen, Steven Davis has been a tremendous player for Rangers but he'll be 38 in January. You can't fight the passing of time. At this point in time, Ryan Jack is a better option. Why Van Bronckhorst is keeping better players on the bench in these games is just beyond me."

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