TAKE A BOW
Gerrard is delighted with team’s position at the halfway point
S TEVEN GERRARD a d mi t s Rangers are precisely where they want to be at the halfway point of the Premiership season.
Goals from Kemar Roofe, Glen Kamara and Ianis Hagi secured a comfortable win over ten-man St Johnstone as the Ibrox side maintained their 16-point lead over Celtic at the summit.
Warning his players they have won nothing yet, Gerrard sounded a cautious note of confidence after the 19th game of the season, saying: ‘We’re very pleased with our form, we’re very pleased with the run we’re on in the league.
‘With 19 games gone, to return 53 points is a really good effort from the players. But it’s halfway and there’s a lot of football to be played, a l ot of games, a l ot of twists and
turns. The important thing for me is to keep these players focused on the next challenge and that will be tough, because it’s against Hibs.’ Rangers overcame a strong St Johnstone start to the game to ease in front with Roofe’s 11th goal of the season in 24 minutes. After that they never looked back. ‘We really stood up to the physicality of St Johnstone,’ added Gerrard. ‘We could have scored a few more goals but, all in all, I’m delighted with the performance. ‘This was a tricky game for us just before Christmas so fair play to the players.’ The second and third Rangers goals came from moments of vision and quality from Joe Aribo, the midfielder returning to something approaching his best form after an injury lay-off. ‘I thought Aribo really flexed his muscles tonight and showed he’s back,’ purred Gerrard. ‘He’s had a real tough start to the season with a big injury — probably the first of his career — and then a bit of an illness which held him back. ‘He’s gone through the gears in the last three or four weeks and he looks close to being back to his best which is really pleasing. ‘The through ball, the weight, to see it with the vision. Normally Glen Kamara tries to check back and pass that but he wiped his nose and finished it away. ‘I’m pleased for Glen because he could have felt sorry for himself after the weekend but I thought he was outstanding all night.’ Rangers face a testing three games against Hibernian, St Mirren and Celtic. Insisting his team feel fit and ready for anything, the Rangers boss added: ‘This is a different situation with Covid and this type of stuff, so we need to guard against anything that can come our way. ‘But if we keep everyone fit and fresh we’re a good team and we’ll win football matches. That’s the challenge for me, just go game to game. Don’t get too ahead of ourselves and stay balanced. ‘The games are coming thick and fast and we have to be ready.’ St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson, meanwhile, warned winger Michael O’Halloran he faces a fight to regain his trust after a six-minute substitute appearance ended in two needless yellow cards for fouls on Alfredo Morelos and Borna Barisic. O’Halloran was also sent off in the opening game of the season against Dundee United and last night Davidson expressed his dismay, saying: ‘He said sorry but it has happened. ‘I had no complaints whatsoever. Michael is an experienced player and he was already booked and I am really disappointed. ‘He has to earn my trust to play again.’