Connor Goldson happy to maintain his perfect attendance record as Rangers defensive juggernaut rolls on in title race

For Connor Goldson, it’s now 2970 minutes and counting as the heartbeat of a miserly Rangers defence this season.

The 28-year-old has started and finished all 33 games the Ibrox side have played in all competitions since the start of 2020-21, the only player to do so. His consistency and reliability in central defence, complemented by the seven goals he has contributed as part of the attacking threat Rangers carry at set pieces, have underlined why he is valued so highly by manager Steven Gerrard.

When asked earlier in the campaign whether he might look to give Goldson a rest at some stage, Gerrard wryly observed that the scornful look he received from his vice-captain whenever he raised the subject made it unlikely.

Making up for lost time

Goldson’s eagerness to play as much football as possible has motivated him ever since he arrived at Rangers in the summer of 2018, his time at previous club Brighton having been disrupted by a heart issue which required preventative surgery and kept him sidelined for the best part of a year.

So it is no surprise to hear him express a willingness to extend his perfect attendance record for the rest of a season which holds so much promise for Premiership leaders Rangers both domestically and in the Europa League.

"I don't know if I can play every game - that's all up to the manager and what he decides,” said Goldson. "But I just do everything I can between games to get my body in the best place to recover and go again.

"I want to play every game possible and I do everything at the training ground, and away from it, to be in the best condition. Hopefully, I can keep performing because I feel in a good place and I am enjoying my football."

Ready for Pittodrie return

Rangers kept their 18th clean sheet in 22 Premiership matches this season with their 1-0 win over Celtic at Ibrox last Saturday which stretched their lead over the reigning champions in the title race to 19 points.

That defensive solidity has been evident from the first day of the campaign when Rangers won 1-0 against Aberdeen at Pittodrie, the venue they return to on Sunday afternoon in search of a 15th consecutive win in the league.

“I have always said in football that when you keep clean sheets it becomes a habit and you get confidence from that,” said Goldson. “Obviously, starting the season the way we did by keeping seven in a row in the league has helped us on our way.

“We have realised now, as a back four and whole team, that if we can keep a clean sheet then it is going to be hard for the other team to stop us for 90 minutes.

“We saw at Pittodrie earlier in the season that it can only take one goal for us to win a game. I think that’s important.

"Pittodrie is always a tough place to go so it's another statement game for us this weekend and it's a place where we have had good results over the years.

"But we have also dropped points there and we know it's one of the most difficult places to go in this league.

"Another three points would be another statement.”

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