The two centre-halves who will probably start this weekend’s Old Firm derby for Rangers have one goal between them this season, Philippe Clement couldn’t think of a better time for them to add to their accounts.
The Gers boss has spoken recently about his love of set-pieces but there is something clear amiss when two such dominant headers of the ball don’t seem to be getting on the end of crosses.
One former Rangers star who has been a matchwinner in the past is Filip Helander with his 2021 header the last time Philippe Clement’s side won a meaningful league derby.
Rangers set-piece woes could do with Filip Helander repeat
The strange thing is, Rangers used to be quite good at set-pieces.
Goldson was a consistent threat, as was Leon Balogun and Helander used to chip in with a goal or two as well.
The work they do at the other end of the park will always be more important but just one goal between John Souttar and Connor Goldson all season is shocking.
Both have had and missed chances so it isn’t all down to the delivery but it’s not like either player are short in physicality or aren’t dominant in the air.
Few defenders in the league win more headers that the Gers duo.
Souttar has of course scored in an Old Firm derby before, in the last of the 2022/23 season when there wasn’t much at stake other than pride at Ibrox.
Celtic are not a big team, there will be opportunities from free-kicks and corners and, like Helander in 2021, it could be the difference.
Looking back at the Sweden international’s goal, there was nothing flukey or lucky about it.
He starts as the deepest runner, takes his marker into the block before peeling off to the back post and powering a header past Joe Hart.
Speaking to The Rangers Review, it’s clear that it is a moment that ranks highly in what has been a hugely successful career:
“It was fantastic.
“As a defender, you don’t get to score a lot of goals. To score a goal in that game, and when it finished 1-0, it was obviously big and it got us the three points.
“I think it was also the first Old Firm with the people back after Covid as well. It was an amazing day. I will remember that day for a long time.”
It will be a day that we will remember for a long time if this Rangers squad win, whoever and however the goals are scored.
Old Firm derbies can be tense or cagey affairs and the encounters this season have been decided by the odd goal, bad defending or questionable officiating.
All it can take is for one moment like Helander’s, for Goldson or Souttar to get free of their marker and for whoever is putting the corner in to find the target.
If ever there was a time to rediscover our threat from set-pieces, this weekend doesn’t come much better.