Gerrard relishes chance to right Ibrox wrongs
Rangers manager insists he can see where improvements are needed
LAST season it was all about 55 for Rangers. So far, the number carries very different meaning for Steven Gerrard this time around. That is Rangers’ win percentage after 20 fixtures at home and abroad this term and the issues are now stacking up for the Ibrox boss following the disheartening draw with Aberdeen.
Such a figure is alarming for Rangers. So, too, is the fact that they have fallen behind in eight matches – five domestically and three in Europe – as 10 goals have been conceded in the Premiership.
The two that were shipped on Wednesday night were amongst the most lamentable as Christian Ramirez and Scott Brown capitalised on diabolical decision-making inside the opening quarter of an hour.
The comeback that was started by Alfredo Morelos was continued when James Tavernier scored from the spot. It was never completed, though, as two points were squandered.
Rangers have come from behind to beat St Johnstone, Hibernian and St Mirren in recent weeks but pulling off such feats is not a sustainable approach. Teams that win titles don’t make life unnecessarily difficult for themselves so often.
It is a trait that Gerrard must address with a matter of urgency. He knows it, but time will tell if he is able to rectify a flaw that is undermining Rangers’ title defence.
“I think you have heard this record on a couple of occasions,” Gerrard said as he came to terms with a costly night that saw Celtic move to within touching distance of the champions at the top of the table. “This is the third game we have drawn. There are a few things that need fixing, that’s for sure.
“It was always going to be a tough game, Aberdeen were on the back if a good result at the weekend and obviously with the rivalry it is always a difficult match. But when you go and gift them the first goal and then lose a duel in the box from a set play and go 2-0 down the challenge becomes more tough.
“We have to try things and force things and throw things at it to get back in the game when really that’s not us, normally we play with control and in a certain way where the organisation is there and we play a stylish game on the back of that.
“There was a lot of that we didn’t recognise as a staff and we need to fix a few things moving forward.
“We will always be honest here. It is not about criticising anyone or digging anyone out, it is about me as a manager and a staff looking at a few things and trying to fix a few things that we need to get better at moving forward.
“Because this is a tough level of football and if you go gifting teams goals… it is happening too many times this season.”
Rangers were unsurprisingly unable to recover from falling behind to Malmo, Lyon and Sparta Prague in continental competition, while Dundee United inflicted their only domestic defeat to date with a narrow win at Tannadice in August.
The champions have been notoriously slow out of the blocks this term and there is a spark missing from their attacking play as they have become predictable and toothless at times.
When that is combined with a defensive unit that concedes goals and chances too regularly, the outcome more often than not is going to be a costly one.
Gerrard said: “We actually tried to start on the front foot. I thought we were positive in the opening exchanges but then, from a dead ball, we decide to over play in the wrong area and we don’t do it right. We gift Aberdeen the opening goal. Then minutes after you end up 2-0 down from a set play.
“You have got to defend your box better when it comes to set plays. From that moment, I don’t think we did much wrong in the game.
“OK, we had to force it at times and we had to change the shape and do things and throw more attacking players at it, but that was because we didn’t start the game well enough in terms of making it too easy for Aberdeen to score against us. The challenge became a lot more complicated after 10, 12 minutes.
“I don’t think [confidence is an issue]. I think it is about us getting on the training pitch and working to try and fix the issues that we have got.
“I don’t think there is any denying that how we have started the season, drawing three games at home from a
This is the third game we have drawn. There are a few things that need fixing
league point of view, certain things need addressing and looking at and that is what we need to do. But that is something that excites me more than concerns me because I believe we have to fix them, I believe we can improve and become a lot harder to play against.”
It is unrealistic for supporters to expect Rangers to continually hit the heights that they reached last term as they clinched the league flag with an unbeaten Premiership campaign. The levels that Gerrard’s side have dropped to are a pressing concern, however, and the run between now and January could well define his fourth term in charge at Ibrox.
The problems are for Gerrard to assess. Ultimately, they are for his players to resolve as attentions turn to Sunday’s showdown with Motherwell.
Gerrard said: “I was very frustrated with certain things that happened on the pitch, the two goals that we have conceded are poor from our point of view so there might have been a tad frustration there but being animated is not a negative for me. It’s someone who cares, who is passionate, who wants to do the right thing by this football club and the supporters. If it was too animated for you guys, I can only apologise.
“All the issues we need to fix, I’m not sure concern is the right word. I know what we need to fix and what needs to be better. I thought we looked very dangerous from set-plays, but we weren’t dangerous at all from open play, we didn’t test Joe Lewis enough.
“It did look as though we could cause major problems from set pieces but that’s not enough.
“We need to be better in open play, in getting shots off. Players on the pitch need to be more creative. But we have scored two goals. I think other areas need worked on first.”