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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
Sport
Mark McDougall

Jermain Defoe earns SPFL award as Rangers star's stunning strike makes it three in a row for Ibrox men

Jermain Defoe's stunning goal against Livingston has been named the SPFL goal of the month after receiving almost 50 per cent of the votes.

The Rangers striker is the third Ibrox star in a row to win the goal of the month competition after Borna Barisic and Cedric Itten both won it previously.

Defoe's goal was his 300th club career goal and it was one worthy of winning a prize.

The veteran strike got on the end of a brilliant cross from James Tavernier and side-footed it into the bottom corner without even looking up.

It was one of many up for the SPFL award and, perhaps surprisingly, beat St Mirren's Ethan Erhahon and Aberdeen's Lewis Ferguson into first place.

Defoe's goal got 48 per cent of the vote while Erhahon finished second for his goal against Aberdeen with 17 per cent of the vote.

Ferguson's stunning hit against Hamilton got just 15 per cent of the vote.

Defoe picked his goal against Livingston as one of the best of his career, as he said: "It was just one of those moments. If you look at my celebration, it wasn't that I was shocked, I was just so delighted it came off.

"I remember speaking with Tav (James Tavernier) because I know his range of passing is unbelievable, and I tried it against Motherwell - the same pass from him, I volleyed it and the goalkeeper made a great save.

"I said to Tav earlier in the week, 'Just look out for my movement…if I exaggerate my movement when I come short, I am going to spin in behind where I've got that space.'

"We literally got it off to a tee! The ball was so inviting. As it came over my shoulder, I knew I had to hit first time, but I had to be relaxed with the finish.

"I didn't want to snatch at it and when I made contact, I just knew it was going in. When I watched it back, it felt like it was in slow motion. I didn't break stride and I was so happy, delighted."

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