Heading into Thursday’s Europa League matchday two clash with French giants Lyon, Rangers have kept clean sheets in six of the last seven games in all competitions.
That Celtic collapse suddenly feels less like a worrying premonition of disasters to come, and more like a rare blot on an impressive defensive copybook.
Robin Propper and John Souttar had only played together three times before Clement’s team travelled across Glasgow to Parkhead. So perhaps it was to be expected that a new-look partnership would struggle to deal with the quality and speed of Celtic’s fearsome frontline.
And while Clement cannot praise the veteran highly enough for his performances on the training pitch, Rangers’ backline almost picks itself these days.
And if it ain’t broke, as they say, then why split up a duo who have provided a platform for Rangers to bounce back from a sluggish start to a season that – given the sheer number of incomings and outgoings – was always likely to be a transitional one?
We also have Leon Balogun still there who is excellent in his role, showing quality in training. We have Nana [Neraysho Kasanwirjo] who can play centre-back, or Dujon [Sterling].
“The [Propper and Souttar] partnership has been good. And it’s also important with new players, you create connections and a partnership so they can get to know each other.
“You can add [left-back] Jefte also in that way. Half of the defence is new. Our number six is new. So you need to find the balance which is better and better.
“What is true is if you take the lessons out of every debrief, and they are really hungry to get better, to make fewer mistakes. You see it’s positive we have four clean sheets in a row.”
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