GERRARD’S JOY AS RANGERS ROAR
STEVEN GERRARD was ‘blown away’ by Rangers’ thrilling victory over Rapid Vienna and said it was their best performance of his Ibrox reign so far. Alfredo Morelos was the hero on a night of late drama as his deadly double fired Rangers to the top of Europa League Group G. Rangers boss Gerrard said: ‘I was very pleased. I thought we were excellent all over the pitch. That’s the Rangers I want. ‘If we get that consistently we will become a team. I’ve been blown away by my players’ performance. Their level today was well deserving of the Europa League level, without a doubt. If we can perform like that in our next two home games we will get out of the group. ‘It was night and day from the (weekend) defeat to Livingston. I asked the boys for a reaction and I got it.’ The Austrian visitors took a controversial lead just before the break when Veton Berisha scored from close range. But the Rangers players were adamant winger Andrei Ivan was offside when he set up the goal and Allan McGregor was booked for his protests. Gerrard’s men roared back to level before half-time, however, when captain James Tavernier crossed for Morelos to ram home. Rangers left it late to find a second, just six minutes before time, when Morelos was fouled in the box by Mario Sonnleitner and Tavernier fired the spot kick into the net. Man of the match Morelos’ second goal in injury time — after a clever backheel by Daniel Candeias, ensured it was all over for the visitors as Rangers moved a point clear of Villarreal at the summit of the group after two games. Tavernier agreed with Gerrard’s assessment, saying: ‘I thought it was one of the best performances I have seen from the boys.’