MX23RW : Saturday, April 20 01:04:39| >> :120:11307:11307:

The last five Rangers strikers to hit 30 goals in a season

The last five Rangers strikers to hit 30 goals in a season
© Reuters
The Colombian has been stuck on 29 since March.

Alfredo Morelos has just one game remaining in his quest to break the 30-goal barrier for Rangers this season.

The Colombian has been stuck on 29 since netting against Kilmarnock back in March, with a four-game ban for lashing out at Celtic skipper Scott Brown halting his momentum.

Jermain Defoe has claimed his starting slot since then and the 22-year-old will now have to hope boss Steven Gerrard gives him a chance to become the first Ibrox player in a decade to reach his target when the Light Blues travel to Rugby Park for their final game of the season.

Here Press Association Sport's Andy Newport takes a look back at the last five Gers strikers to reach the 30-goal milestone in a single season.

Kris Boyd (Season 2008/09 – 31 goals)

Kris Boyd enjoyed his best season at Ibrox in 2008/09
Kris Boyd enjoyed his best season at Ibrox in 2008/09 (Lynne Cameron/PA)

Boyd may not have been renowned for his work outside the box but inside he was simply deadly. The former Scotland poacher claimed 31 goals as he helped Walter Smith's team kick off a run of three straight championships. Boyd – who could feature for Kilmarnock against Morelos' team this weekend – has since gone on to be crowned the deadliest marksman in SPL/SPFL history.

Marco Negri (1997/98 – 37 goals)

Had it not been for an eye injury suffered while playing squash with compatriot and Light Blues team-mate Sergio Porrini, the Italian hitman may have gone on to rip up the record books. The former Perugia ace fired an incredible 33 strikes before the bells had even rung out for Hogmanay – including five in one game against Dundee United. However, the goals quickly dried up after his unfortunate mishap with Porrini and he would contribute just four more as Gers missed out on 10 in a row.

Mark Hateley (1993/94 – 30 goals)

The Englishman formed a lethal pairing with Ally McCoist but with his strike partner out injured for the majority of the campaign after breaking his leg on Scotland duty, it fell to Hateley to shoulder the scoring burden and he did not let Smith down as he contributed the goals that took Rangers to their sixth straight title.

Ally McCoist (1986/87 – 36 goals; 1987/88 – 42; 1991/92 – 39; 1992/93 – 49)

The club's all-time top goalscorer smashed through the 30-goal barrier on no less than four occasions, twice earning him the European Golden Boot. McCoist's most prolific campaign came in 1992/93 and saw him blast 49 goals as Rangers claimed the treble as well as coming within one win of a place in the Champions League final. He may have hit more had it not been that leg break sustained while playing for Scotland against Portugal which saw him miss the final eight games of the season.

Derek Johnstone (1978/79 – 38 goals)

Jock Wallace's Gers claimed their second domestic clean sweep in the space of three years and largely thanks to Johnstone's goals. The big frontman contributed 25 in the league as Gers pipped Aberdeen to the title, while he also left the Dons reeling with his winning strike in the final of the Scottish Cup. Although he was named Scotland's double player of the year, he was overlooked by boss Ally MacLeod during an ill-fated World Cup campaign in Argentina and failed to see a single minute of action.

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Andy Newport, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '67ccc58e-3819-4a57-a1a3-e7303ca4375d');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'One game left for Morelos to break 30-goal barrier for Rangers'});

ID:359328: cacheID:359328:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:9977:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Steven Gerrard pictured before Rangers' Scottish Premiership clash with Celtic on March 31, 2019
Read Next:
Greg Docherty warns Jake Hastie he will need thick skin at Rangers
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic000080265478
2RangersRangers000072234975
3Hearts000046341262
4Kilmarnock00004334951
5St Mirren00003843-543
6Dundee00004454-1041
Relegation Group
1Hibernian00004451-739
2Motherwell00004651-537
3Aberdeen00003549-1435
4St Johnstone00002446-2231
5Ross County00003256-2430
6Livingston00002259-3718
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
12Livingston3339212259-3718


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!