Nigerian Players abroad Aribo, Balogun Absence Saw Rangers Drop Points

Nigerian duo, Joe Aribo and Leon Balogun unavailability saw Rangers dropped points in Sunday Scottish Premiership game against Livingstone.

Both players picked up injury in the midweek game against St Johnstone and were unavailable for selection. 

Aribo scored his first game in the 2020-2021 season in the 3-0 trouncing of Johnstone.

Balogun who has been instrumental in defence for the Gers came off in last midweek game which saw him missed the action.

Read Also: Aribo Scores For Rangers As Balogun Plys For 46 Minutes

Rangers have won all their last three games which Balogun and Aribo had started.

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard in his post-match conference rued missing Aribo and said he never wanted to risk him.

“He (Aribo) is got a little knock, we’re hoping to have him available next weekend but it was too risky to do today.

Commenting on the performance of his team, Gerrard expressed his frustration for failing to run home with the maximum three points.

“We are frustrated not to take maximum points as that is what we have come here to do – that was the intention to keep building on our good work and our good form.

“The reality is we have done a lot of things right in-terms of controlling the game – we’ve had a lot of possession and we have handled everything that Livingston have tried to throw at us.

“So I am pleased about that, but really disappointed that we didn’t have enough creation or that bit of magic or someone in our armoury to find the answer which was to break through.

“We got in a lot of good areas, crossed the ball a lot but we just couldn’t find that moment of quality.

“We nearly did with Borna and the free-kick.

“Alfredo has had a header at the back post that he normally does better with and Ryan [Kent] has had a decent half-chance.

“But I think over the course of the 90 minutes, we haven’t created enough or tested their keeper enough.

“So we have ourselves to blame in terms of dropping two points.

“I don’t think we have done too much wrong in-terms of our overall play. 

“We have kept pushing, the intensity was good and we passed the ball well enough.

“We got into the areas well enough but then you are relying on the talent you have got in the squad – the names and the big matchwinners in your squad to find the answers and we couldn’t do that today.”


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