Rangers secured a dominant 4-0 victory over Ross County at Ibrox, extending their aggregate score against Don Cowie’s side to 13-0 over three encounters this season. However, despite their attacking prowess, much of the post-match discussion centered on Philippe Clement’s central defenders rather than his forwards.
John Souttar, having made a brief appearance in the Europa League win over Union Saint-Gilloise just days earlier, was named in the starting lineup for a Premiership match for the first time since Rangers’ 3-0 victory over the same opponents nearly two months ago. His return was marked by a clean sheet and a goal, as he found the net for the fourth time in his Rangers career on his 80th appearance.
After Ianis Hagi’s early brace put Rangers in control, Souttar capitalized on a Nico Raskin flick-on to score from close range, effectively sealing the contest before halftime.
While Souttar’s return was a notable storyline, much attention was also given to his defensive partner, Clinton Nsiala. The young summer signing from AC Milan, who only made his Premiership debut against Dundee a few weeks ago, has quickly established himself as a key figure in the squad. His composed performances and trademark diagonal passes have made him a crucial asset to the team.
This was Souttar’s first time partnering Nsiala in the starting lineup, and he hopes it will be the first of many, provided he remains injury-free.
“He’s still very young. It took him about six months to break into the team, but I enjoyed playing alongside him,” Souttar reflected post-match. “There are a lot of good center-backs here, and he’s another great addition to the group. I really enjoyed playing with him—he’s got a lot of quality.”
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