JACK BUTLAND’S form last season was so good that England call ups were being talked about – and some serious money.
The big goalkeeper has had plenty going on this season – with a last gasp dash to hospital for the birth of his child and a Hogmanay return to hospital to deal with an internal bleed.
Rangers fans have criticised Jack Butland after his mistake led to a Motherwell goal[/caption]
The Englishman was beaten twice as Gers went down 2-1 to ‘Well this afternoon[/caption]
The goalkeeper spilled the ball from a Luke Armstrong shot and allowed the striker to score on the rebound for the Steelmens’ opening goal[/caption]
But the turmoil has taken a toll on the star‘s form, with a couple of high profile mistakes and clean sheets few and far between.
And some Rangers fans reckon today’s error in the lead-up to the opening goal against Motherwell was the worst of the lot.
The best thing that could be said in his defence was that perhaps Butland thought that ‘Well star Luke Armstrong was in an offside position when he fired in his low shot.
The assistant linesman thought likewise, as he put his flag up BEFORE the ball was put in the net.
But referee Nick Walsh, back at Ibrox for the first time since sending off Mohamed Diomande in a controversial incident against Dundee United, didn’t blow at that point.
Instead he waited for Butland to fumble out Armstrong’s tame shot and the striker to gleefully rolled it into the open goal.
When VAR determined that there was no reason to disallow it, all in all it was a shocking goal to concede and it was understandable that Gers fans should vent their fury about it afterwards.
It’s fair to say that alarm bells about their goalkeeper’s form are ringing loud and clear – with many saying on X, formerly Twitter, that a potential replacement must be a priority for the summer.
Liam Kelly has deputised for Butland at points this season – although the Englishman still appears to be an almost automatic first choice when fit.
One fan simply wrote: “Been horrendous all season.”
A second said: “One too many.”
A third said: “We have a better keeper on the bench.”
Another wrote: “Butland is a bomb scare, can we just put Alan McGregor on please?”
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