Robby McCrorie has twice kept clean sheets for Rangers in Old Firm wins at Ibrox.
And as he prepares to make his emotional return tonight as a Kilmarnock No.1, he insisted he’s a far better keeper now than in those wins against Celtic. The Scotland squad member returns to the club he spent 10 years at as Killie travel to face the Light Blues. Derek McInnes’ side are looking to complete a famous double after McCrorie kept another clean sheet in a 1-0 win against Philippe Clement’s men at Rugby Park in October.
McCrorie left Rangers in the summer and there was always the feeling he never quite got his opportunity to shine after making just five league starts in his time at Ibrox. Remarkably, two of those were in Old Firm games in 2021 and 2023, with Gers winning both home games without McCrorie conceding a goal.
And the 26-year-old insists he has no regrets about making the switch to Ayrshire. He said: “It was an easy move to make and I don’t mean that in a disrespectful way but it was one I was wanting for a while.
“I am thankful that the gaffer and a lot of people at the club did a lot to make it happen and I am enjoying it now with a run of games. My best moments at Rangers were playing in the Old Firm games. I was ready for them to be honest.
“From an outside perspective, people might have thought I was being thrown in, but I had been on my loans. I try to train right every day so I was fully prepared.
“There’s not another game that compares with the Old Firm derby and we got good results and clean sheets I don’t think you can ask for any more! I know myself I did everything I could have done. I don’t have any regrets. Everything else was out of my hands.
“I definitely feel I am a better keeper now and I feel I can get better. I just want to keep improving. I would train all weekend the game would come and even when Rangers had won games I didn’t have the same feeling. I wasn’t involved on the pitch and I wanted to be involved and have a say in games.
“And this is why I am here at Kilmarnock. I am loving it here. There are a lot of good people here and everyone mucks in to try and do their best for the club and that’s what I like. I am that kind of person too.
“I’ve not really thought about going back to Ibrox too much because of the amount of games we have had. I don’t really know what it’s going to be like.
He added: “The main thing I am going there as a Kilmarnock player and I want to get a good result for Kilmarnock. I am looking forward to it. It’s one of the biggest and best stadiums in the game and I need to embrace that.
“But I’m going back there for football purposes and it’s important for us. There are a lot of games coming up with no breaks so we need to pick up points and get momentum.”
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