Stevie says sorry then makes vow
STEVEN GERRARD said sorry to Rangers fans – then insisted his team are in the best possible shape to face Celtic.
The Light Blues boss, who played down a move for Olivier Giroud, was gutted he couldn’t give punters more festive cheer in the narrow win against Kilmarnock.
Alfredo Morelos came off the bench to score the only goal to KO stubborn Killie, his 28th of the season. Celtic’s 2-1 win at
St Mirren sees them five points clear with a game more played going into the Parkhead derby.
Gerrard said: “I’m delighted because we got exactly out of this game what we got out of Hibs – three points, a clean sheet and on we go.
“I apologise if it didn’t look pretty for the supporters and that it wasn’t three, four or five.
“We have incredible support and sometimes they come here and just expect you to blow teams away. Liverpool supporters were the same when I played there.
“Killie set a challenge, ‘Come and beat us’, and they made it very difficult for us. We found a way which is very pleasing.
“We set out to entertain, play well and for it to look brilliant on the eye but teams are not going to just allow that every week.
“You have to give credit to Kilmarnock who defended resolutely.
“They had no ambition to win the game but we have to accept that teams are going to come here and try to steal points away from us.
“We are learning but we have to get used to it because a lot of teams will come and do that after the winter break as well.”
Gerrard added: “We have a game in hand so I’m not really too concerned about gaps.
“I’m concerned with my team winning football matches.
“We are going to Parkhead in good form and good shape. We know it will be a very tough match, they have a very strong home record.
“But we played Celtic a few weeks ago and put a good show on, gave a good account of ourselves. I expect us to go there with confidence and belief we can get a result. “Alfredo did what he’s paid very well to do. He’s being doing it from the start of the season and
I predict he’ll continue to do it until the end of the season. At Hibs it was about Defoe, Kent and Aribo. Today it was about Morelos. That’s what being part of Rangers is all about.
“He has stepped up at a big time for us but has he done enough to win a starting spot against Celtic? You ask that question every press conference and get the same answer. Wait and see!”
French newspaper L’Equipe have linked Gers with a move for Giroud who is out of Chelsea’s firstteam plans and available on a free in the summer.
Gerrard added: “We are getting linked with some good players. I don’t know anything about it. It’s the first I’ve heard of it. If someone knows something about it give them my number.”
Killie caretaker boss Alex Dyer admitted assistant Alastair Mather was right not to flag Morelos offside for the winner despite pleas from his players.
He said: “It took Morelos to come on and win the game for them and, no, it wasn’t offside. It looked it at the time but it wasn’t.”
Dyer praised his side’s display which he admitted was much closer to the standards they set when he was No.2 to Steve Clarke.
He added: “They were outstanding. Everyone worked hard, they were confident, showed a good workrate, I was chuffed with them, very pleased.
“Still, this was more like the Kilmarnock I know. I wanted to get back to basics. I didn’t want to be gung ho, I just wanted us to be disciplined and put in a good performance.”