Dane Murray’s worst nightmare came true in the first-half on Sunday.
The Celtic defender was backed to play ahead of January signing Benjamin Arthur in the absence of Auston Trusty.
After 25 minutes, Murray took a wild swipe at the ball, failing to clear it in an error which led to Youssef Chermiti putting Rangers 2-0 ahead.
However, since the performance, many have credited the 22-year-old’s general defensive display, notwithstanding that it will still be defined by his error.
You are Martin O’Neill, what is the first change you would make for the cup game against Rangers?
Dane Murray’s stats in Celtic vs Rangers
The numbers are staggering; Murray won a total of 17 of 21 contested aerial duels.
Not only is that the highest total ever from a Celtic player in a Scottish Premiership match, but it’s also one of the highest on record in any competition.
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Up against two tall strikers in Chermiti and Ryan Naderi, Murray had plenty of work to do in the air, but the numbers make it clear: he more than held his own.
His defensive partner, Liam Scales, won eight of ten contested aerial duels, and has averaged four-and-a-half per game in the league this season.
Murray had also put in a defensive shift in Thursday’s Europa League win at Stuttgart, having spent a period largely out of the side following a difficult display in Brendan Rodgers’ final game at Tynecastle.
His new manager, Martin O’Neill, was keen to sing his praises after the costly error. He said: “He fought back, yes.
“He won a lot of headers, a lot of big headers for us. He’s only a young kid, really, at the end. He’s lost two years in the game because of serious injuries and stuff like that.
“So after that there, he could have capitulated. But he didn’t do, and he showed a lot of character.”
The duality of Dane Murray…
The career of Celtic’s Dane Murray
Murray was highly-rated throughout his teenage years, appearing at every youth level for Scotland. He signed for Celtic aged just six.
O’Neill may call him a ‘young kid’, but Murray made his Celtic debut almost five years ago.
That was when Ange Postecoglou was tasked with carrying a heavily unsettled squad through a Champions League qualifier against Midtjylland, and the then 18-year-old had to be drafted in following a red card to Nir Bitton.
His slow development has been caused by two significant knee injuries which kept him out over a number of years. He spent six impressive months on loan at Queens’ Park last season.
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