Ban the thugs who throw coins, says fuming Gerrard
RANGERS boss Steven Gerrard has insisted that any missile throwers bringing shame on Scottish football should be banned.
Alfredo Morelos was struck by a coin thrown from the crowd after he scored Rangers’ second goal at
St Mirren on Saturday.
Coming just four days after former Northern Ireland international and Hibernian boss Neil Lennon was felled by an object hurled from the terraces at Tynecastle, Gerrard called for the offenders to face heavy punishments. “Is it going to have to take someone’s eye to come out or someone to be badly hurt from an object for us to make it stop?,” asked Gerrard (below).
“These people shouldn’t be at a football match. You just ban them forever. It’s that simple. Then it will stop.”
Morelos was struck as he celebrated his goal two minutes into second half stoppage time in front of the home support in the West Stand. The police have confirmed that they are now looking into the incident.
A police spokeswoman said: “No reports were made to police of coins being thrown at players at the game by either club, players or stewards.
“However, having been made aware of the video footage, the incident will be investigated.”
St Mirren chief executive Tony Fitzpatrick says the club will find and ban the fan who threw the missile at Morelos.
“It’s unacceptable and we will find out (who did it),” Fitzpatrick said. “The ground is full of CCTV. He will be banned. We don’t want people like that at the games.
“But what can we do? We can impose a ban but we can’t stop it, that’s not the club’s responsibility.”
Lennon was struck by a coin after celebrating Hearts’ disallowed goal in the final moments of the Edinburgh derby in midweek, while Hearts keeper Zdenek Zlamal was left floored after being struck by a supporter as he went to retrieve the ball from behind his goal.
Daniel Candeias and Morelos scored in the final 10 minutes as the Gers consigned St Mirren to a seventh successive Premiership defeat.
Gerrard also branded referee Willie Collum’s decision to send off Candeias in Paisley an “embarrassment”.
Gerrard had no complaints about the Portuguese attacker’s first caution, which he received for leaping into the away end as he celebrated the opener.
But he was left furious by Collum’s decision to flash yellow again as the former Benfica winger attempted to shrug off Anton Ferdinand, who had placed him in a headlock and appeared to aim a jab at Candeias’ chin.
“The second yellow card is embarrassing. There is your evidence, that’s what you’re dealing with,” said Gerrard.
St Mirren are now on their worst run of results since the 1920s having taken just one point from the last 33.
But former Coleraine boss Oran Kearney (below) insists he will not let his side feel sorry for themselves ahead of next weekend’s bottom of the table clash with Dundee.
“We’ll come in on Monday, have a look at the footage and then it’s all systems go for Saturday,” he said.
“That’s our job and there’s not one chance in hell of people downing tools. The moment you do that is the minute you start getting smacked five, six or seven.” NEIL Lennon’s bad week took a turn for the worse as his Hibernian side were sunk 1-0 by a late Joe Shaughnessy goal in Leith.
The Hibs boss was struck by a coin during the derby draw with Hearts on Wednesday and he was unable to find a tonic against St Johnstone, who climb above the Edinburgh club to fifth place.
Danny Swanson had earlier missed a spot-kick for Saints, but Shaughnessy spared his blushes late on.
Motherwell recorded back-toback wins as David Turnbull’s second half goal settled a 1-0 victory at home to basement boys Dundee.
Hamilton are hot on the Steelmen’s heels after beating Livingston by the same scoreline thanks to substitute Mason Enigbokan-Bloomfield’s last-gasp winner.
Mickel Miller was sent off for Livi at New Douglas Park before Norwich loanee Enigbokan-Bloomfield bagged his first goal for Accies.