Philippe Clement would have wanted his senior players, his leadership group, to stand up and be counted against Celtic, what he got instead was nothing short of a disgrace.
John Lundstram scored a comic book capers own goal, looking like a pub league player rather than one on tens of thousands of pounds a week.
It only got worse when Willie Collum changed his original on-field decision to show the 30-year old a red card, leaving Philippe Clement with no wins from his first three Old Firm derbies as Rangers manager.
John Lundstram shouldn’t be seen for Rangers again
From the first whistle, Lundstram was miles off the pace.
There was no pressure on Callum McGregor or Matt O’Riley and he was hiding when Rangers had possession.
After going 2-0 down and pulling a goal back, Lundstram should have been trying to control the tempo and keep Mohamed Diomande right.
Instead, he did what he has done on so many times when it matters, he let Rangers down.
Lundstram shouldn’t be seen in a Rangers shirt again.
Any ideas of offering him a new deal should be put to bed.
At the business end of the season, he has been missing.
Rangers need a proper central midfielder who will dictate play, not one who pretends to be an enforcer or a deep lying playmaker.
After three seasons at the club, how many times has he played well in a derby?
Once, maybe twice?
Nicolas Raskin came off the bench and played in a team that was a man down and still made more of an impression.
The diminutive Belgian was aggressive, brave and was spreading the play as quickly as he could, looking to get Rangers on the front foot.
Clement culpable in being loyal to Lundstram
It is the one criticism that can be labelled at Philippe Clement.
The Gers boss has been too loyal to a player who should have been dropped in recent weeks.
Sometimes, it shouldn’t matter what a player is doing in training, especially if they are a liability during games.
Regardless of how long Lundstram is banned for, there is no justifiable reason for him to return to the starting XI.
Raskin has shown, against the best midfield in the league, that he can provide the energy that Rangers need.
Ryan Jack is getting fitter by the day and Dujon Sterling has also shown that midfield is an area of the park where he can thrive.
With Lundstram said to be leaving Ibrox in the summer, it is time for others to be given a chance to prove that they want to be at the club, unlike some who clearly don’t.
