Ibrox surprise as Rangers defenders top the table | OneFootball

For all the complaints we can all (rightly) make about Rangers’ defence this season, given how frail it appears, it may come as some shock to Ibrox supporters that Rangers boast 3 of the top 5 defenders in the league score-wise on Sofascore.

The well-respected stats site reports that of the top 5 defenders in the SPL, 3 of them are Rangers – John Souttar (7.10), Robin Propper (7.03) and Dujon Sterling (6.74).

Only two Celtic defenders are in there, Scales and Vickers, with Vickers at number one.

This is a curious number. Rangers have conceded 4 goals this season, Celtic haven’t conceded a single one, and yet it’s Rangers’ rearguard by far lauded the most purely on the data.

Even more interestingly, Jefte comes in at 7.33 while Tavernier is at 7.73, which are great scores but that adds more attacking attributes (assists and dribbles) hence they are not included among the defensive stats.

But the point is that the raw data is good.

Of course, we sound a bit like Philippe Clement, ranting about stats to fans after we’d just been gubbed 3-0 at Parkhead – we are in no way defending Rangers’ lacklustre start this season, or how far behind we are.

We are, however, presenting the data that the defenders Rangers have this season have apparently being doing the business surprisingly well, even if league position tells a different story.

The day the stuff on the pitch and the results match the data is a good day.

Football isn’t won by stats.