Walking Football Special with Tom Lawrence at Goal Three

Ibrox anoraks have had plenty to dive into as they dig deep to deflect away from the fact that their club has inferior players and management to Celtic, highlighted by Sunday’s contribution from Tom Lawrence.

The former Welsh internationalist replaced Mohamed Diomande in the 58th minute giving him an energy boost of one hour on the other players on the park.

After scoring the previous week against Ross County it was apparently a big call from Phil Clement to leave Lawrence out of the Starting XI, replacing him with the alleged physical presence of Dujon Sterling.

Despite Celtic’s superiority the scoreline was only 2-0, there was some sloppy play from the homeside who led three of last season’s Derby matches by that scoreline but ended up with two single goal victories and a 3-3 draw.

In 74 minutes Lawrence did manage to get on the ball and break deep into Celtic’s half before Kyogo Furuhashi chased him down with Liam Scales providing the telling intervention (73min 41 seconds).

While Celtic quickly got back on the front foot to turn defence into attack the 30-year-old Welshman slowly got to his feet and WALKED back reaching the halfway line after 74 minutes and 11 seconds. Half a minute after being dispossessed.

Lawrence continued to amble around in the centre circle as Celtic knock the ball around, probing for an opening for the third goal.

The Ibrox substitute briefly breaks into a jog but gives up on that before Callum McGregor gets possession, bursts forward to his right then curls in a brilliant shot to put that match beyond any doubt.

Lawrence was expected to be part of the summer clear out but with no club willing to get close to his Ibrox wages, not even Birmingham City, he remains as part of the Clement Revolution!

With an international break Clement has a fortnight to consider his team selection for the match at Dundee United on September 15, every aspect of the Glasgow Derby will be taken apart.

Angry bears are demanding wholesale changes for that match but when the alternatives to the Starting XI against Celtic include the Walking Welshman it looks like a long slow autumn of discontent over at Ibrox/Hampden.