Liam Kelly believes Rangers’ defensive shortcomings at Easter Road were unacceptable as they once again dropped crucial points on the road.
A 3-3 draw with Hibs came just three days after the Ibrox club produced their best display of the season against Celtic, with Philippe Clement’s run away from home in the Premiership now standing at three wins from 10.
Up next is another tricky trip, this time to Dundee on Thursday night in the league, and goalkeeper Kelly is adamant they simply must cut out the costly errors.
‘I was really annoyed that we didn’t come away with a victory (against Hibs) after scoring three goals,’ said the Scotland international, who was again standing in for the injured Jack Butland. ‘When you play for this club, if you score three goals, that should be more than enough to win.
‘I was really annoyed at the defensive moments we gave away. It was sloppy moments. We should never have conceded three goals.’
Martin Boyle’s first of the afternoon proved to be the pivotal moment of the match, with Hibs handed a lifeline through Rangers’ inability to defend a routine situation.
Rangers goalkeeper Liam Kelly starts the inquest after Hibs score their third goal on Sunday
Kelly was helpless as Rocky Bushiri headed home a late equaliser in the 3-3 draw at Easter Road
Kelly says Rangers’ defending has not been strong enough during the key moments this season
‘We gave away an awful goal, all of us collectively,’ added Kelly. ‘A really poor goal and it gives them life in the game, which they never, ever had.
‘It was out of nothing as well, really, a set-piece, obviously. We don’t defend it as a team and we gave them hope when we were so, so good in the early stages of the game. So, really frustrating.
‘I thought we played well a lot, but we didn’t defend well in moments. There were loads of good stuff, but nobody cares when you don’t win a game.
‘I’m not even going to sit here and try to waste anybody’s time by talking about the good stuff, because nobody cares if you don’t get over the line and don’t get a victory. We need to look at the stuff we didn’t do well and try to cut that out.’
Having picked up where they left off against Celtic and got themselves into a strong position in the match, Rangers reverted to the bad habits that have cost them so dear in this league campaign. They now trail their rivals by 13 points.
‘All of us, we started turning the ball over too much,’ reflected Kelly. ‘Under pressure, we never kept the ball enough.
‘After half an hour, everyone saw there were some amazing moments for us in the game, but when you turn the ball over and you give Hibs momentum, you allow them to get the crowd up.
‘It’s sloppy, it’s slack from all of us. Last Thursday (the 3-0 win over Celtic) was amazing, it was the ultimate high, but that’s why we’re so far off at the moment, because in these defensive moments, we’ve not been strong enough.
‘It’s something we’re aware of, it’s something we’re trying to get better at.’
Hamza Igamane’s first Rangers hat-trick took his tally for the season to 11. But although the Moroccan’s contribution against Hibs earned him the match ball, Kelly felt he should have had a win bonus to go with it.
‘Part of the frustration is that we’ve (not) backed up that hat-trick for him,’ he said. ‘Obviously, he’s the top end of the pitch, so it’s not so much on him.
‘I’m so disappointed and so angry that we’ve not managed to win the game. That’s my overriding emotion.’
The game saw Clement’s injury crisis deepen with Dujon Sterling joining Leon Balogun, John Souttar, James Tavernier and Neraysho Kasanwirjo on the sidelines.
Kelly, deputising for Butland, is adamant that the unfamiliar line-up was no excuse for what unfolded in the capital, stressing: ‘That’s not a problem, because you’re playing against the toughest attack in the league last Thursday and we got a clean sheet. So, I’m not going to sit here and say the back five is now the issue.
‘We’ve got some brilliant, experienced players in there, and it’s not just on us to defend.
‘I’m not here to make excuses. This is a club game where nobody cares who you play. You just need to win.’
