CALM DOWN FOR GAME’S GOOD SAYS GERRARD
STEVEN GERRARD has vowed to keep his yuletide cool as the temperature rises on the Premiership title battle.
The Rangers boss, left, admits he has even given himself a talking to about good behaviour ahead of a make-or-break week in the championship race. Ibrox
coach Tom Culshaw was sent off with Hibs assistant John Potter as tempers frayed on Friday night at Easter Road.
Rival benches squared up after the shocking tackle by Ryan Porteous on Borna Barisic that was followed by a glass bottle being thrown at the Rangers defender by a Hibs fan.
Gerrard insists his coaching staff only became so animated during the 3-0 win because they love their players so much and hated seeing one of their own hurt.
Rangers face Kilmarnock on Boxing Day before the Old Firm clash at Parkhead on Sunday but Gerrard has pledged it won’t spill over again in his technical area.
He said: “I’ve had a word with myself as well. It’s an emotional sport.
“We love the game, we love getting results and we love representing this club.
“Things are going to happen in the heat of the moment and you are going to react but it’s not good for the image of the game, especially in front of the cameras.
“We are not always going to get it right but there was a realisation pretty quickly from myself and my staff that we need to make sure it’s not a regular thing.
“We are honest enough to admit that but, at the same time, it was a very reckless tackle – it could have been season ending – and we care very much about our players.
“My staff love the players like their own so I wasn’t surprised by their reaction.
“Hibs’ bench try to protect their players as well, so it’s going to happen from time to time.
“However, we’ve all got a responsibility to maybe cool it moving forward. I never actually saw Jack (Ross) after the game but some of my staff spoke to him and his staff and their point of view was the same.
“They weren’t proud of how it looked and what it led to but it’s football and you get emotional from time to time. I’m not going to apologise for that.”
Gerrard fears trouble on the terraces will only get worse unless a “severe” example is made of the missile throwers putting players in the firing line.
The Barisic incident is not the first time fans based in the East Stand of Hibs’ ground have made headlines.
Gers skipper James Tavernier was confronted by a pitch invader in March, just a week after Celtic’s Scott Sinclair was also targeted with a glass bottle.
Gerrard said: “Only action from the clubs will help or stop it in the long run.
“We can’t just talk about it in the media. There has to be serious actions taken. The individuals need to be identified because I do believe it’s a minority.
“They need to be punished heavily so it stops other people trying to do it in the future. It’s a crazy decision to throw a bottle on to a football pitch. The damage you could do is unthinkable.
“There needs to be an example set – a severe one – and then that will make people think and things will improve.”