John Lundstram told his Rangers reality for Celtic showdown as Barry Ferguson lays out 'energy' demand
The Ibrox hero has told his old club that the discipline MUST be spot on if they are to lift the Scottish Cup.
Barry Ferguson has named his Rangers midfield three to face Celtic - with the much-talked about John Lundstram benched.
Philippe Clement and Brendan Rodgers locked horns at Parkhead just a couple of weeks ago in a massive Scottish Premiership clash with the Hoops running out 2-1 winners and effectively winning the league with the champions getting over the line in their following match with a five-star show against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. But one big talking point from that derby showdown was the dismissal of Lundstram for a late lunge on Alistair Johnston. His initial yellow card was upgraded to a red leaving Rangers playing a man down for the whole second half.
Involvement at the national stadium in the Scottish Cup Final looks like it will be a final appearance at Rangers for Lundstram with his contract up. His selection has been a topic of discussion between Rangers fans and when it was a question put to Clement during his pre-match press conference, the boss explained: "I am never going to make decisions about what fans are thinking at that moment. That is emotion. They don't see training or the team working. They don't even know the players and how they are or how they are in the dressing room. So I don't think I need to answer that question, if I need to start with him or not. It is about the decision I make with my staff about what I see in training and the last couple of months in the games."
The battle between Celtic and Rangers in Mount Florida tomorrow afternoon is the only story in town and Ferguson reckons his old club MUST keep their discipline to have any chance of lifting the famous old trophy. Speaking on Go Radio, he explained: "The discipline has got to be spot on. You need to keep 11 men on the pitch. If you think back to the last game, you know what I am going to mention. The Lundstram challenge. I don't think there is any need to make that challenge. You can stand up, you don't need to lunge in. It is important that Rangers have the discipline if they have any chance of winning the Cup."
Asked about Lundstram's role for Rangers at Hampden, he added: "I think he will be in the 18. Personally, I would go with a midfield three of [Nicolas] Raskin, [Mohamed] Diomande and Dujon Sterling. That would be my midfield three. Guys who have got good energy."
When it was suggested that it was a trio that wasn't 'massively creative', he continued: "No. But you need to find a way to win the game. I would rather watch a Rangers industrial performance and winning the cup than going and playing nice, pretty football and not winning the Cup."