Pat Bonner picked out Rangers defender Borna Barisic for praise during a resounding first-half performance for Celtic in the Old Firm derby at Parkhead during Saturday afternoon.
Rangers star Borna Barisic praised for first-half performance at Celtic
Pat Bonner praised Borna Barisic on BBC Sportsound as Rangers met Glasgow rivals Celtic in the Old Firm derby. The former Hoops goalkeeper believed the Gers left-back was giving the Bhoys’ current number one, Joe Hart, a constant issue during the first-half on Saturday.
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Giovanni van Bronckhorst took his Ibrox natives across the city hoping to go ahead of Ange Postecoglou’s team in the Premiership standings. But a flurry of first-half finishes from Liel Abada and Jota ensured it were the Hoops who entered half-time three goals to the good.
Celtic looked like threatening to score with every attack they could string together, and hit home three times from restarts. The Bhoys had an edge over the Gers as they played with an extra spring in their steps, and kept applying pressure whilst their visitors were not set.
But despite the resounding half-time scoreline in Celtic’s favour, Bonner felt Barisic posed a threat for Hart in the Hoops net with what the Rangers full-back kept delivering into the box. Even if a Gers player was not ultimately able to make good use of the Croatian’s deliveries.
“Barisic is putting in some superb crosses from the left,” Bonner noted. “Joe Hart looks like he doesn’t want to come out and deal with them.”
Barisic performances justifying Nottingham Forest summer transfer interest
Barisic proving a problem for Hart in the Celtic net during the Old Firm derby goes to show why Nottingham Forest were interested in signing the Rangers defender this summer. The Daily Mail credited the Premier League outfit with admiring the 29-year-old during August.
No move ultimately materialised for the 29-year-old, who still has two years to run on his contract at Ibrox. Much to Van Bronckhorst’s delight, no doubt, with Barisic starting five of Rangers’ first six Premiership games this season, plus all four Champions League qualifiers.
Barisic additionally entered the Old Firm derby at Parkhead with two assists to his name in all competitions this season. The £2m signing from Osijek back in 2018 will hope to go two better, now, and eclipse the three assists that he offered over 43 appearances last season.
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