Macca: We need more goals from midfielders

GARY McALLISTER forged a career as one of the most potent midfield operators in British football. Now McAllister admits he’d like to see a greater return from his own Ibrox middlemen as Rangers enter a period that could make or break their title bid. The Light Blues travel to Dingwall tonight for what could be the first of six from seven Premiership fixtures on the road between now and Christmas. The plus side for Rangers is they don’t have a rival to match the output of their front two, with Jermain Defoe and Alfredo Morelos rattling in 16 of their club’s 29 goals in the league campaign to date. But there’s food for thought in the stats that show Rangers have yet to score from the middle of the park in any of 10 Premiership fixtures since the start of the season. Scott Arfield, Greg Stewart, Sheyi Ojo and Brandon Barker have all grabbed single goals as part of a three-pronged attack in the preferred 4-3-3 set up of Steven Gerrard’s side. Defenders Connor Goldson, Filip Helander, Borna Barisic and James Tavernier have also chipped in with goals that matter. However, players such as Arfield, when he has dropped deeper, as well as Steven Davis, Glen Kamara, Joe Aribo and Ryan Jack have yet to score in the league this season, which suggests Rangers have become over-reliant on Defoe, who has 10 goals, and Morelos. Title rivals Celtic, on the other hand, have spread their goals more evenly so far in the title race, with top scorer Odsonne Edouard on eight for the campaign. Ryan Christie has popped up with six, James Forrest has four, Mohamed Elyounoussi has three and Callum McGregor has also bagged a couple. There are merits in the attacking philosophies of both clubs, with only three goals separating the big two at the top of the table ahead of tonight’s fixtures. However, McAllister – who