GERRARD BIGOT FANS MUST STOP
MATCH REPORTAND REACTION FROM ACCIES O RANGERS 5: SEETHEWINNER
STEVEN GERRARD last night issued another plea to punters to cut out the bad behaviour after a section of Rangers fans gave another blast of the offensive Steve Clarke song. The Ibrox boss was thrilled with his
side’s five-goal mauling of Hamilton at the Hope CBD Stadium yesterday but was forced to respond again to chanting from a section of the away support.
Kilmarnock manager Clarke accused Gers fans of being in the dark ages after being called a “Fenian b******” at Ibrox in midweek with Light Blues chairman Dave King and Gerrard united in condemning the guilty parties.
But Gers fans unfurled a banner saying “Get well soon Steve Clarke” before yesterday’s match and a select band gave the song another airing.
Gerrard said: “At the risk of repeating myself, we don’t want to hear that or see anything. I was quite clear in my press conference last week. There is no place for it. We want it to stop.”
The Gers boss was more pleased with the message sent out by his side as they showed they could cope without suspended Alfredo Morelos.
Gerrard’s men drew blanks against Killie and St Johnstone when the Colombian was suspended but five different scorers hit the net as the hitman served the last game of his threematch ban.
Ryan Jack, Jermain Defoe, James Tavernier, Scott Arfield and Kyle Lafferty were all on target and the Light Blues boss said: “It is pleasing because we have been overly reliant on Alfredo at times.
“We have the quality out there to create goals and score when he’s not available. That was a big positive.
“I’m very pleased with the clean sheet as well.”
Gerrard blasted his squad after last weekend’s scoreless stalemate with Saints but they have responded by knocking five past Killie in the Cup and repeating the trick at Hamilton. He said: “I’ve spoken to the boys a lot recently about turning up and being hungry, showing our intent from the beginning.
“And we came out the blocks well. We controlled all of the first 45 minutes. We certainly deserved a big lead at half-time.”
Gerrard’s side clicked in to gear but he was thrilled with the impact of new recruit Glen Kamara and for Lafferty to nab his first league goal since September. He said: “Kamara has settled in so well. He is a lovely footballer and looked like a Rolls Royce out there at times.
“He is building a good relationship in there with Ryan Jack.
“It’s been coming for Lafferty. He’s been a little bit unlucky at times. You saw his header blocked by the defender today.
“He’s stayed with it and we know he has the quality.” Accies boss Brian Rice admitted his attacking plan backfired against Rangers.
He said: “I didn’t want to come here and just defend.
“I wanted to have a go. Unfortunately it didn’t materialise and Rangers had us on the back foot early on.”