Defeat will strengthen Gers: Gerrard

RANGERS boss Steven Gerrard is still struggling to come to terms with defeat at Livingston, but he believes it will ultimately make him and his team better.

Gerrard had only lost to Celtic in 17 games as a manager, but his side found Livingston tough to break down on Sunday as they fell to a 1-0 loss.

Gerrard said: “We have learned a lot about individual players and about us as a team.

“When you are flying and things are good, individuals and the team get a lot of credit. Sometimes a lot of small things get hidden amongst that, but I think after a defeat, away from home, a sore one, then you analyse it a little bit more and analyse individuals a little bit more.

“Some things smack you in the face and are made that little bit more obvious. There is a saying in football, ‘You learn more through defeat’ — and I can definitely understand that.”

The former Liverpool captain, whose side host Rapid Vienna in the Europa League tomorrow, added: “This defeat will improve me because I made a few mistakes within that game as well.

“The first thing I do is analyse myself and my staff: Did we do anything wrong? Could we have done anything different or better? You hope your players do that themselves individually, because if you are a proper player then the first thing you do is self-reflect and analyse yourself.

“If you have made mistakes, then you try and not go back there and you try and improve.”

Meanwhile, one Betfred Cup semi-final could be moved from Hampden.

The SPFL confirmed they were in discussions over moving one of the matches scheduled for Hampden on October 28. The Hearts-Celtic encounter could now switch to BT Murrayfield, with Aberdeen-Rangers staying.

The SPFL’s plan to stage Aberdeen-Rangers at 12pm and the other tie at 7.45pm on the same Sunday, which was their solution to a problem posed by both Glasgow club’s Europa League commitments, was criticised.

But Hampden Park Ltd have now waived a contractual agreement, meaning one game may now be moved.