Game of zones
Stewart says he knew Celts were in trouble when he saw Gers keeper had total focus
ONE look at Allan McGregor’s face midway during the Old Firm barnstormer told goalkeeping legend Jim Stewart everything he needed to know.
Even if the Ibrox No.1’s expression gave away absolutely NOTHING to the rest of the watching world.
McGregor was in the zone. And when that’s the case it can only mean good news for Rangers. And very bad news for Celtic.
Exactly like Andy Goram more than two decades ago.
McGregor’s heroics to repel wave after wave of Hoops attacks in the first half at Ibrox and ultimately leave Celtic sick were reminiscent of The Goalie’s performances in the 1990s which the late Tommy Burns famously lamented.
Inevitably it has led to comparisons and questions of which of the two is the better keeper.
Ally McCoist was put on the spot by Andy Walker during commentary on Saturday’s showdown and marked his old team-mate Goram at 9.9 while McGregor was a smidgeon behind on 9.85.
But former Gers and Scotland keeper Stewart, who knows both well from his time as a coach, reckons even that slim margin is way off.
He said: “I think Coisty was 0.05 out in terms of his scoring there – there’s absolutely nothing between them!
“You have to put the two of them together along with Stefan Klos and Chris Woods.
“They have all earned the right to adulation. Allan is certainly receiving that now but he’ll play it down because that’s the character he is.
“I’m really not surprised by these performances from Allan. These games bring him to life and he certainly thrives on them.
“I watched him coming off at halftime – looking at his face you wouldn’t know if he was winning, losing or even enjoying the game!
“He was just totally zoned in to the performance. That’s him at his best.
“We all know how important the game was for both teams so it’s vital your key players turn up and perform.
“When you look at Al lan’s performances down the years, big games, matches against Celtic, sometimes he can have very little to do in the game but when it comes to one big save to define a performance he comes up trumps.
“He has kept himself lean and still has that desire to succeed. Those attributes mean he is there for the fight and the battle when it matters.
“He is without doubt in an elite band of Rangers goalkeepers including Goram, Klos, Woods and guys of that ilk.
“Allan can hold his own with them and I’m sure those guys would look at his performances and say he deserves to be in the group.
“Knowing Andy as I do he would have been purring with pride at what Allan produced on Saturday.”
McGregor’s man-of-the-match display came on his 400th start for the Ibrox club, a Rangers career that has so far produced three league titles, three Scottish Cup gongs and five League Cup successes.
Goram won five league titles during the nine-in-a-row glory years as well as three Scottish Cups and two League Cups.
In a 2001 poll of Rangers fans the man dubbed The Goalie was voted the club’s greatest ever keeper.
Bu t S t ewa r t reckons the current custodian is every bit as good.
The 66-year-old – whose son Colin is first-team goalkeeping coach at Ibrox – said: “In terms of their character and desire to win then Allan and Andy are exactly the same. They’re both winners.
“The saves they make and the importance of those saves in the context of the games and results are also similar.
“Look back at Saturday and how important it was for Rangers to get a good start. As it turned out Celtic were on the front foot.
“Allan’s two or three first-half saves were crucial and gave the rest of the
These games bring Allan to life and he certainly thrives on them
team the confidence to go and win the match. “You look at the big performances Andy produced for Rangers during nine in a row and being able to stand up to the onslaught of very good Celtic sides.
“He gave the team the platform to go and win crucial games.
“Allan is 39 later this month but the way he looks after himself – he is first in the building, the stuff he does before training – he has never got out that routine.
“That’s enough to drive him on and be fit enough to go and compete at the top level.
“Where I do agree with Coisty is that the league is not done yet. There’s so many matches left.
“Celtic’s three games in hand, the two derbies, Rangers have Aberdeen, Motherwell and Hibs in quick succession.
“It has to stay game by game until they reach the magical figure that allows them to go and win the title.”