Jack Butland has experienced a season of ups and downs at Rangers, and Kris Boyd has shared his thoughts on the English goalkeeper following a pivotal moment against Fenerbahce.
The Gers’ shot-stopper was at fault as Rangers suffered a 2-1 defeat to Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership at Ibrox on 1 March.
However, Butland rose to the occasion in the Europa League, delivering a series of impressive saves as the Light Blues secured a 3-1 victory over Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce at the Ulker Stadium on Thursday (6 March).
While the former Manchester United goalkeeper has room for improvement, he has demonstrated flashes of his talent in high-stakes matches.
Butland knows he can do better at Rangers after impressive save v Fenerbahce:
Butland must be aware that his performances at the Glaswegian club have been inconsistent at times, Boyd suggests.
Yet, the ex-Rangers striker singled out the English goalkeeper for special praise following his game-defining save against Talisca in Turkey.
Boyd acknowledged Butland’s errors but emphasized that the 31-year-old has a knack for showcasing his quality when it matters most.
The former Scotland international wrote in The Scottish Sun (7 March): “But Butland deserves a special mention for producing perhaps the big moment of the tie with his stunning injury-time save from Talisca. The critics have been on top of the Englishman in recent months after some mistakes.
“He was certainly culpable for Motherwell’s opener last Saturday, and there was even that mix-up which left Robin Propper injured on Thursday evening.
“Butland is an honest keeper. He will know himself when he doesn’t hit the standards he sets — nobody has to tell him. But his quality can’t be doubted, and he showed it again with that crucial stop in the final seconds.
“From the first angle, it looked like a top save. From behind the goal, it was even better. Talisca placed it perfectly. It was destined for the bottom corner — before Butland got down to turn it round the post.
“In the context of the two legs, that could be the defining moment for Rangers. In the big moment of a big game, Butland produced. That’s what top keepers do.”
Ibrox faithful frustrated with Butland:
Butland has made several costly errors at Rangers this season, contributing to the team’s struggles domestically.
The Gers arguably have little left to fight for in Scotland after being eliminated from the cup by Queen’s Park, and they trail Celtic by 16 points in the league table.
Philippe Clement’s tenure at the Light Blues was marked by inconsistent performances, leading to his eventual replacement by Barry Ferguson on an interim basis at Ibrox.
Butland isn’t the only player who has been inconsistent at the Glaswegian club; most of the squad has experienced similar fluctuations this season.
Nicolas Raskin has been Rangers’ standout midfielder, but even the Belgian international has had his struggles at times.
Hamza Igamane, who emerged as a key figure under Clement in his final months at Ibrox, has seen a dip in form recently.
Cyriel Dessers has shown glimpses of his ability with crucial goals in recent matches, but the Nigerian striker is another player who has left fans frustrated during the current campaign.
While the Light Blues may have little to play for domestically, the players must step up in Europe and aim to progress as far as possible.