“Got his number” – post-match dismay at dismal draw

We’ll have match reaction from tonight’s dismal draw with Killie as we go on, but two things were patently obvious – Jermain Defoe cannot play as a lone striker, and Steve Clarke has Steven Gerrard’s number.

Whatever happened in the build up to this one, whatever words were said, Gerrard’s 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 depending on what moment in the game we’re at, simply wasn’t functioning against a well-drilled Kilmarnock side who were far more threatening, far more dangerous, way better organised and infinitely harder working.

A drab match overall was caused by Killie shutting Rangers out, true, but it was Killie who came far closer to scoring, despite having less shots and shots on target.

And it sure wasn’t helped by a Jermain Defoe display completely out of his comfort zone trying to be one up top and completely failing. Not his fault – Gerrard was wrong to say on the unveiling that Defoe could play that role. He can’t.

Quite honestly we don’t know why we signed Defoe – he has scored a couple of useful goals, yes, but where he fits in to Rangers’ overall vision is a mystery to us.

And Steve Clarke once again got the better of Gerrard – true, it was only a draw, not a home win, but few would have argued had Killie gone to the next round on this performance.

And remember this is a Killie who have no wins in the past three, including a horrible draw against Dundee.

Bad night for Gerrard, bad night for Rangers. Must do better.