RANGERS WIN 2-1 ON AGG NINE LIVES

Gerrard’s men survive second half onslaught after two reds to qualify for group stages

STEVEN Gerrard refused to criticise Alfredo Morelos and Jon Flanagan despite their dismissals which left Rangers’ Europa League hopes hanging in the balance.

Gers were forced to endure a nail-biting final 25 minutes after being reduced to nine men against Ufa in Russia but grabbed a 1-1 draw which sealed a 2-1 aggregate win and a ticket to the group stages.

Morelos was dismissed having collected two quick-fire bookings for a petulant first-half outburst at German referee Tobias Stieler, while Flanagan followed him down the tunnel after the break as he also picked up a pair of yellows.

But the Rangers boss - who confirmed a one-year loan deal for Nottingham Forest defender Joe Worrall has been struck - said: “I’m not going to sit here and criticise the two red cards because those two players have helped us very much since I came in the door.

“We go up together and we go down together.

“I’m sure Jon and Alfredo will apologise to their team-mates but in terms of the nine men who were there from start to finish, I haven’t got words to describe them.

“Alfredo is an incredible footballer but he’s still a young footballer and I think it helps him that I’ve been a young footballer, someone who has made mistakes myself.

“The important thing is to learn as quick as you can. The same goes for Jon, he’s more experienced but should know better.

“But players don’t make mistakes on purpose. Sometimes the decisions were harsh and I thought in Alfredo’s case the decision was very harsh, so I feel for him. “I’ve said before I love the player and I love the person but at the same time all my players need to learn quick that when you come away in Europe sometimes the decisions are not the same as domestically and we have to find some discipline because as a group ours hasn’t been good enough so far.”

Gers claimed a precious away goal after Ovie Ejaria struck 10 minutes in but Dmitri Sysuev levelled for the hosts moments before Morelos’ red card.

But Ufa could not make the most of their numerical advantage as Gerrard’s team dug in for a crucial result.

Rangers go into Friday’s Europa League draw after sealing their return to the main phase of a European competition for the first time since 2010.

“My blood pressure has calmed down a bit now but the team don’t seem to want to do it the easy way,” admitted Gerrard.

“They seem to be challenging certainly me as a manager when it comes down to heart pressure and grey hairs.

“But I’m so proud of the players tonight, an incredible achievement.

“I always had one eye on this moment because it was the first thing we could achieve as a group and the players deserve all the credit.”

A move for Osijek winger Eros Grezda is still to be completed but Worrall’s move has been signed off with 24 hours to spare ahead of Friday’s transfer deadline.

Gerrard said: “Hopefully there will be some good news with Grezda in the coming days but in terms of Joe, it’s good news.

“As we were playing he should have signed a deal to be a Rangers player for a year.”

SCOTT ARFIELD says Rangers are ready to bounce into Parkhead – and he wouldn’t be surprised to see Alfredo Morelos atone with an Old Firm goal.The Ibrox midfielder insists the players are ready to pick themselves up from their knees after their most physically draining match of the season.Nine men held on against the odds for a 1-1 draw at Ufa, a 2-1 aggregate win and a potential £10million jackpot from the Europa League group stage.Forgiveness hung heavily in the air as Arfield (right) moved speedily to put an arm around Morelos, red-carded for the second time this season, rather than rush to condemn.Arfield said: “A team was born out there tonight. The expectation we held in the dressing room was that we fully expected to score.“It was great to get that early goal and then we had the setbacks with Flanno and Alfredo. They were difficult to take but we dug in.“Alfredo doesn’t do it out of badness or malice. He’s very remorseful and it’s up to the lads to rally round him.“Thankfully it’s a good time to get back on the plane. After the Aberdeen game he came back and you look at his goals against St Mirren and Kilmarnock.“We now have a massive game to look forward to on Sunday. We now have a bit of momentum going and we don’t go there fearing anyone. We will go into Parkhead bouncing.”

JACK IT UPRyan Jack (centre) celebrates at the final whistle despite Morelos seeing red early on (right)