MX23RW : Monday, January 6 00:45:54| >> :120:81424:81424:
[monks data]
Attendance: 50,012
Rangers logo
Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 24
Feb 1, 2020 at 3pm UK
 
Aberdeen logo

0-0

FT

Steven Gerrard admits he is at a loss to explain poor Rangers form

Steven Gerrard admits he is at a loss to explain poor Rangers form
© Reuters
Rangers have quickly lost the advantage gained by beating Celtic immediately before the winter break.

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard is baffled by another slow start to a year after his side were held to a goalless draw by Aberdeen.

For the second year running, Rangers have quickly lost the advantage gained by beating Celtic immediately before the winter break.

Last season they lost their first match back against Kilmarnock before dropping four points in early February and losing all hope during a dismal March.

Rangers have been unconvincing since returning this season and the Ibrox draw with the Dons followed last weekend's defeat by bottom club Hearts.

"It's difficult to put your finger on it because we look into all this," Gerrard said. "It's not fitness, it's not talent. I'm struggling to put my finger on that right now.

"It's on us to find our spark and have more invention in the final third."

James Tavernier was not risked off the bench after appendix surgery, while Alfredo Morelos, in his first start of 2020 following suspension, failed to convert a one-on-one and set up Ryan Kent for a simple finish.

Gerrard said: "Look, we have missed Tav, of course we have. He is our captain, he is a big contributor in the dressing room.

"We missed Buff (Morelos) at Hearts. When you have got players at that level and how important they are for the team, you are always going to miss them.

"With your best players on the park, there is more chance of having more spark, more quality in the final third.

"James, the way he plays for us, he is more of a winger than a full-back. You see his quality from the sides, he has got running power down the sides. We create a lot from the right-hand side. They are the facts.

"Buff with that chance looked like he had missed a few games of football. But what can we do about that? Give him games, get him back 100 per cent sharp and he takes those chances.

"I sit here every single week talking about how good he is. It's very rare I sit here and say he had two big moments and unfortunately couldn't deliver."

Gerrard handed brief debuts to Ianis Hagi and Florian Kamberi.

On Hagi, he said: "He showed his quality. I love the way he plays with his head up, he is always looking and searching and probing for something. But he has only had one session with us, he needs to adapt.

"Same with Flo. I wanted to give them a taste of it to see if they can try and help us with that spark."

Aberdeen's point moved them three off third-placed Motherwell and proved a timely boost to Derek McInnes after some fans called for his exit following another goalless draw against St Mirren last weekend.

"We work hard, ignore the noise and concentrate on what we do and try and deliver better performances," the Dons manager said.

"I am confident we will deliver better performances in the second half of the season. We are not far off third spot, where we want to be, and we still think there is more to come from us."

ID:388535: cacheID:388535:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4613:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard on December 29, 2019
Read Next:
Steven Gerrard admits Rangers are missing attacking "spark"
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Celtic2017215574853
2RangersRangers20124437162140
3Dundee UnitedDundee Utd219753022834
4Aberdeen2110473230234
5Motherwell219392734-730
6St Mirren2283112737-1027
7Hibernian226883135-426
8Dundee2174103337-425
9Ross County226792238-1625
10Kilmarnock2266102537-1224
11Hearts2265112531-623
12St Johnstone2243152444-2015


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!