AGM_72

Horrific news. RIP.

Don't think the ball stuck well with him at all. Just didn't link well with anyone. Worked really hard, but we'll need to keep the ball a bit better next week so he'll need to improve.

The turn around in Ridvan has been remarkable. Deserves all the credit he's getting. He's injected energy and quality into that left side which it was sorely lacking.

According to Pedro Mendes this Benfica side don't travel well - even in Portugal - so it's there for us next week. Done an incredible job to make sure we are right in this tie after the first leg.

2-2 with a full strength team is a good result there, 2-2 with an injury crisis is a minor miracle. Superb team performance, frustrating sloppy moments but so well disciplined.

Also not allowed to complain about mentality/being winners when they're happy to get pumped out a competition.

It is, I agree, but we have to trust that this manager and group will deal with it and back them because they've barely dropped points. Even if we were to slip up again, it's still neck and neck.

I don't think that's fair this season. We're just off the back of an 11 game winning run, which would have been longer had we not lost narrowly away at our toughest away game. So it doesn't really "keep happening". We've been near flawless, which we've had to be in order to claw back a points gap that nobody expected us to.

This game reminded me of when we dropped points to Dundee United in early April in Walter's last season, 3-2 at Ibrox in the last minute. Result came out of nowhere, looked like it might have killed our title bid. Honestly expecting both sides to drop points again before the end of the season but there won't be much margin for error.

Wasn't at fault for any of the goals but still managed to put in a horrendous performance. Hasn't been up to standard for the last month or so.

More twists and turns to come yet, but delighted with that. Cup next weekend and then international break? Hopefully have more bodies back after that.

I thought it was his arm as well tbf. Johnson's arm onto Iwata's.

Aye good point! Did Grant maybe not play mid week? I remember he took over from him after he missed a streak earlier in the season.

He missed 3 on the bounce I think.

Yup

Tight calf or achilles they said pre-match.

Yeah, I think he's better on the ball/general link than Boyd was IMO but his general athleticism is poor. Which is why he shouldn't be near the Scotland starting line up in the Euros.

See the limitations and strengths of Shankland. Largely a wasted jersey in general play today, but right place right time on two occasions (unlucky with offside in the first one).

Rotten result but not going to get carried away with it - just as I won't be getting too high if they drop points today. It's a sore one, but there's plenty of distance left in this race. Keep the faith and back the team that's dragged us back into this fight.

Time and again he scores goals that either brings us level or puts us ahead in games, it's just ridiculous at this point.

He's been decent since coming back into the team but I'm really pleased for him getting the goal. August '22 was his last goal? Must have felt great, particularly to score such an important one. He really created something out of nothing to begin with by making the run for the quick throw and taking the quick freekick he won too. Far too often in the past we'd have taken a breather and settled down again, having just got back into the game, but he recognised there was an opportunity there. Good example of a player taking responsibility, taking the game by the scruff of the neck and getting the reward for it.

I thought the decisions were fine tbh, except the Mayo one at the end. I don't really understand why that one wasn't given - does it maybe deflect off his body/leg right before hitting his hand? Really the only thing I could think of. Sportscene just ignored the incident and not a live SKY game so no real analysis or explanation of it.

Yeah, I think it gets lost because of Sterling's obvious physical qualities but he's technically a very good footballer with great positional sense/situational awareness.

Great win, 3 points is all that matters in a game like that.

Borna shouldn't emerge after half time and that should be the end of his Rangers career.