SAVED BY THE BELL
Gerrard insists Gers kitman tried to keep Cowden cup clash on track ... not stall it
DONALD FINDLAY claimed Jimmy Bell was the driving force behind the decision to postpone Rangers’ Scottish Cup clash at Cowdenbeath.
But Steven Gerrard joked it was the Ibrox kitman who drove his car on to the Central Park pitch in a bid to beat the freeze.
Gerrard hit back at suggestions from former Gers vice-chairman Findlay that Bell had influenced the decision to call off the fourth-round tie.
The Light Blues boss was left frustrated and admitted having yesterday’s friendly against HJK Helsinki was a bonus ahead of Wednesday’s crucial Premiership trip to Kilmarnock.
Scott Arfield, Nikola Katic and Daniel Candeias were on target in a 3-2 victory against the Finnish champions as the players got their first runout since the Old Firm win 22 days ago.
Gerrard fielded a strong starting line-up with Jermain Defoe and Steven Davis handed debuts before changing his entire team at half-time.
And that came as a result of the Friday night call-off in Fife with the game rearranged for Wednesday week with a return trip to Rugby Park awaiting in the next round if Gers beat the League Two side.
But on claims Bell was behind the decision, Gerrard said: “Jimmy actually wanted the game on. He was thinking he’d have to carry all the kit back in 10 days’ time.
“It was Jimmy’s car on the pitch with the engine on trying to thaw the bit of ice out! That’s what he tells me.
“I don’t think Jimmy is capable of getting a game called off.
“He is more concerned that he’s got to work an extra night. I don’t think Jimmy had anything to do with it but he does like getting his picture in the paper so that might be what he’s tried to do.
“I never got to the stadium. We got to the hotel for the pre-match meal. I didn’t see the pitch so it’s difficult to comment on.
“We respect the decision and Cowdenbeath for trying everything they could to get the game on. It was a shame because we wanted to play. It has actually been very beneficial that the friendly against HJK Helsinki was in place.
“I was pleased with the performance in the first half. When we had the ball we looked very dangerous going forward.
“Having two forwards on the pitch allowed us to cause them problems. We created more chances to score.
“I was disappointed with us out of possession. We were at testimonial pace. We were a yard off the pace, a bit slow and not going into tackles with the intensity we showed here three weeks ago.
“But I’m not going to criticise the players because they had a really strong session on Saturday.”
There was an injury concern in the dying seconds of the game when Borna Barisic stayed down following a challenge but the Croatian recovered.
However, Gerrard hinted at a frustration with his full-back and when asked how he was, the Gers boss said: “You’ll have to ask Borna. He had me worried. He tapped the floor 55 times, I think, I counted. He is walking pretty normal now but I don’t know.”
Defoe and Morelos were paired in attack against the Finns with Ryan Kent at the point of a midfield diamond and Davis on the left as he returned almost seven years after leaving Ibrox for Southampton.
The breakthrough arrived just before the half hour and it was Morelos with the assist as he threaded a ball through to Arfield and he tucked home.
But the visitors levelled straight from kick-off when they got down Gers’ right-hand side and the ball across goal found Kevin Kouassivi-Benissan who fired beyond Wes Foderingham.
Defoe should have opened his Gers scoring account on the stroke of half-time from Ryan Jack’s pass but the striker shot wide.
And that was the veteran England frontman’s last act as Gerrard changed the entire starting 11 at the break with Kyle Lafferty given a chance to impress in attack. But it was defender Katic who headed Gers back in front from Barisic’s corner. However, again the lead was shortlived as Lassi Lappalainen got in behind the backline and beat the advancing Robby McCrorie to fire in off the post. Captain Candeias took advantage of a cock-up from the keeper who passed straight to the winger and he drilled home the winner. Candeias is excited about the prospect of a Defoe-Morelos partnership and said: “With them we can have more people in the box to score from balls into that area. “Morelos can improve with another player because it will help him up front. There is a path to become even better.”