IS THAT THE BEST YOU’VE GOT BHOYS?
GERRARD: Brendan said Celtic were excellent and their players looked really happy .. if that’s their best then I’m satisfied ... we’ll be better for Ibrox clash
THE sour taste of Celtic defeat has been corked by Steven Gerrard and racked as a limited edition.
Now he wants a series of vintage performances in the next four weeks to gather momentum for a revenge mission against a side he clearly sees as beatable.
The nature of the post-match celebrations of the Celtic players raised an eyebrow as they undertook a lap of honour before skipper Scott Brown led a dance in front of Rangers fans.
Further confirmation of Celtic’s ascendency or relief they had put the new-look Rangers team back in their box for the next few months at least?
Gerrard said: “I can’t control what the Celtic players do and how they celebrate. They do whatever they do.
“After analysing it we weren’t good enough in the first half, didn’t pass the ball well enough and didn’t have enough belief and courage when we won the ball.
“Our shape wasn’t too bad. It was slightly too deep but they gave us the ball back enough times for us to go and play and show what we were about and we didn’t do that for 45 minutes.
“I was pleased we came out in the second half and gave a better account of ourselves in terms of making the game a contest and showing what we were about and it was even stevens. Next time the fixture comes around we’ll have been together a lot longer and we’ll be a better team.
“We know what Celtic are about. Brendan said they were excellent on the day. Celtic players seemed as if they were really happy about how they played. If that’s Celtic’s best, I’m satisfied with how it looked second half, but there is certainly a lot for us to work on before getting ready for the next fixture.”
Gerrard admitted Rangers’ start to the Premiership season has been underwhelming.
Rangers face a run of three home games from four in the league, starting today against Dundee before the visits of St Johnstone and Hearts, with a
trip to Livingston also scheduled at the end of the month.
Gerrard has demanded four victories to fire his side up the table after taking just five points from their opening fixtures, which included their first defeat of the season at Parkhead.
The international break gave him plenty to ponder but Europa League qualification has been tempered with the whiff from lacklustre Premiership results.
He said: “We’re not happy with the points total. Five out of 12 isn’t good enough. We need to amend that starting against Dundee.
“If we play anywhere near our potential we must look at our league fixtures from now until the next international break and aim to take maximum points.
“We’re in a league where you can’t afford to make mistakes or concede last-minute goals or go down to 10 men and not get the result your performance deserves.
“We need to learn. We need to start taking maximum points.
“The break came at a good time as we had a hectic schedule but were on the back of an Old Firm defeat so we’ve had to chew on that for a few weeks which is never nice.
“As a player, coming off the back of a sore one going into the international break was never what you wanted. You wanted that next game to get it out your system and bounce back. I’ve got that feeling bottled and I hope my players have it too and we take it out on Dundee.
“You’ve got to take breathers when they come, reflect, regroup and re-energise. I’m ready and I just hope my players are too.”
The loss of Ryan Jack for two weeks with a calf injury is offset by the return of Lassana Coulibaly, with Jordan Rossiter and Graham Dorrans also back in training.
Gareth McAuley is still nursing a calf injury but Eroz Grezda is likely to be given a cameo from the bench, even if he is only 80 per cent fit after an ankle op in June.
Gerrard said: “We’ve lost one match in 13. I’m not saying that’s allowed but if we can go on a nice run then it starts against Dundee. “We just posted our best training session I’ve seen since we’ve beentogether. I saw a team that’s focused and ready to
play.”