Rangers needed a helping hand to defeat Hearts in a victory that exemplified what Philippe Clement is up against.
Normally, a 3-1 victory at Tynecastle would leave the Ibrox supporters smiling, which has been in short supply lately.
Rangers fans expected a reaction after the humiliating defeat at Queen’s Park, but they had a lot to thank Jamie McCart for, whose two own goals would have wounded him in more ways than one.
Jamie McCart’s Celtic ambition will make Rangers’ sorrow worse.
Signed in January to improve Hearts’ defence, the former Celtic youth product has played an important role in the club’s recent recovery.
He will want to forget his own goal double against Rangers though given his allegiances.
As a fresh-faced youngster in 2017, McCart only had one thing on his mind, reported The Sun:
“It’s always the dream to force my way into the Celtic first team,” the 27-year old said during Brendan Rodgers’ first tenure as manager.
“You look at Jozo Simunovic and Dedryck Boyata, they are brilliant and top professionals. They really take care of themselves.”
Doing their Old Firm rivals a favour is unlikely to be high on the list of a Celtic fan’s list of career objectives, not that Rangers manager Philippe Clement will lose any sleep over it.
A brief look through McCart’s X account and some of his posts before he became a professional reveals how much of a diehard supporter he is, and, while he will be enjoying his old club’s current dominance, winning a game for Rangers will certainly not destroy his weekend.
Celtic have always had players who would go through walls for them, but the last few seasons have seen a gradual drop in those who “know what it takes” at Rangers.
What Rangers fans could make a difference for Philippe Clement?
The current Rangers roster lacks a core of players who understand the club’s ideals and the demands of everyone who wears the Light Blue shirt.
John Souttar’s mother is a well-known season ticket holder, while Liam Kelly is a boyhood fan whose dream came true, but the majority of those who bleed red, white, and blue are in the academy, like Findlay Curtis.
Billy Gilmour and Lewis Ferguson are obvious examples of individuals who have slipped through the net, ripping it up in Serie A and much beyond Rangers’ budget.
Oli McBurnie was free last summer, but he chose to play in La Liga with Las Palmas rather than travel to Dingwall in November.
Rangers attempted to sign Kenny McLean, with former Norwich City teammate Grant Hanley also mentioned.
If a Bluenose centre-back was signed, Harry Souttar, who has previously been connected with Rangers, would most likely be the preferred option because to his physicality.
Nils Koppen has mentioned a Scottish core, a team that fans can relate to, but winning would be a good start.
