Rangers’ 2-2 draw with Motherwell felt among the most frustrating of the 2021-22 season.

Celtic’s dropped points earlier in the day gave the Ibrox side the perfect opportunity to reduce the deficit and yet the chance was missed. To take a two-goal lead over the Steelmen yet finish the day with the same deficit in the title race was ridiculous.

It does not ring true as the actions of champions.

This was a day to crush Motherwell, yet they were let back into the game despite an early two-goal advantage. What unfolded felt inconceivable.

A team that won the league last season and should be capable of winning again folded to a mid-table side that rarely threatened the opposing goal. Two goals should have been enough to win the day. Yet Rangers caved and caved badly.

The ills of Giovanni van Bronckhorst on Sunday could be put into two categories: the conceivable and the inconceivable.

What could have been prevented against Motherwell was the inclusion of John Lundstram at centre back. No one expected his role on Sunday and it was a bizarre call. It felt like an unnecessary and optimistic reach. With Balogun and Sands sitting on the bench, Lundstram's move was a needless stretch to control the ball from the back.

That played out poorly in conceding the first goal when Lundstram's inexperience in the position was badly exposed, giving the ball away in a dangerous position. Where he would've normally made that error in midfield, no one was behind him on this occasion and it cost Rangers badly. 

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Lundstram showed on the previous Thursday that he could be part of a back three but it's a huge stretch on the part of the management team they thought he should be one of two centre backs against Motherwell. That change and the consequences could have been prevented.

This brings me to the goalkeeper situation and Allan McGregor. He was exposed against Motherwell to such a point that he simply looks to have played a season too many.

McGregor currently looks like a fraction of the goalkeeper expected based on his years of sterling service, not least last season when he was many people's player of the year.

McGregor’s infrequent saves and multiple gaffes simply do not justify his inclusion on a regular basis. Rangers need a goalkeeper that can command his box, has some pace and good reflexes. In 2022, McGregor only has the latter and Rangers are suffering from the lack of the first two. A man that flawlessly filled the role over two spells at the club, he now looks to have pushed himself too far.

It goes without saying that what he has achieved will be universally appreciated and his place in the debate for Rangers’ greatest ever keeper is firmly established but Gio needs to be ruthless. His shot-stopping does not outweigh the negatives and McGregor needs to realise that himself.

Rangers don’t seem to have a replacement ready to go. McLaughlin hasn’t yet shown undeniable qualities that could mark him down as Rangers’ next no.1, but he has to be currently sharper than the competition.

It is hard to let go of what McGregor has achieved but the league could be determined by what Rangers do in this position between now and May.

When Giovanni van Bronckhorst started in his role as manager at Ibrox, he said the players in front of him would find a tough boss if they weren’t reaching his standards.

Gio has assembled a starting eleven yet he must now show a bravery to move beyond it - the league title may depend upon it.

It’s one of the first times he’ll have had a difficult conversation at the club but it is moment for van Bronckhorst to tell McGregor he would serve the club better on the Rangers bench.