BBC Analyst slams Jack Butland’s conduct toward teammates following 1-0 Win

Jack Butland found himself under fire despite playing a decisive role in Rangers’ narrow 1-0 win over Motherwell at Ibrox.

The Light Blues laboured their way to three vital points courtesy of Thelo Aasgaard’s second-half strike, a result made all the more important after last weekend’s defeat to Hearts and Celtic’s dramatic win at Livingston.

While Rangers owed plenty to Butland for a series of crucial saves, the goalkeeper was also involved in an awkward flashpoint of his own making.

Butland produced three important first-half stops and denied Callum Hendry shortly before the breakthrough goal, underlining his shot-stopping quality. However, moments after the restart, the England international was at the centre of an embarrassing lapse.

Under no real pressure, Emmanuel Fernandez rolled a simple pass back to his keeper. Butland hesitated, allowed himself to be closed down, and hurriedly shifted the ball onto his right foot before slicing his clearance straight into the stands. Instead of holding his hands up, he gestured angrily at his defenders, appearing to blame them for the error.

The incident didn’t go unnoticed on BBC Radio Scotland. Commentator Thomas Duncan remarked:

“He’s sliced the clearance straight into the stands and he’s having a go at his team for not giving him an option.”

Former Rangers midfielder Ian McCall added:

“I think he’s having a go at the pass-back because he’s taken it to his wrong side and he wanted it to the other side.”

While Rangers kept a clean sheet and collected three points, the overall performance again highlighted issues within the squad. Defensive frailties were exposed at times, particularly down the left, while the lack of cutting edge on the counter meant chances to kill the game went begging.

With Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers representatives watching from the stands, head coach Danny Rohl will be hoping the performance underlined the need for significant backing in the January transfer window — because while Butland saved the day, even he wasn’t immune from criticism.