GERRARD DECLARES TWO-GOAL MORELOS IS ‘BACK WITH A BANG’

his chance against St Johnstone. He has looked a lot more dangerous. ‘He deserved his man-of-the-match award and if we keep him in the place he is in now, he is going to be a huge help to us going forward.’ Morelos had been asked to help the team more this season, and Gerrard admitted he spoke to the striker about his role yesterday. Asked what he told him, the Rangers boss replied: ‘Play closer to the goal, be in the box more. I think it’s quite natural if you are a striker who is not scoring goals in the volume that you want, and your confidence is affected, that you drop deeper away from the goal. You start coming short too much instead of being selfish and getting yourself into the box. ‘You saw both his goals today came from him attacking the goal frame right by the penalty spot. That’s where we need our No 9.’ Gerrard’s only gripe was the failure to put the game beyond Aberdeen completely as Rangers pulled and dragged ten men all over the pitch before conceding only their sixth goal of the season in the league after 67 minutes. ‘It should have been more emphatic,’ he said. ‘We were excellent up until 2-0. ‘Playing against ten men, we maintained our standards. But then we got a little bit sloppy. ‘We lost control at times and Aberdeen had too many good moments. We need to look at that. But I’m obviously very pleased with the outcome and the points. ‘All of my front players looked dangerous today. Ryan Kent was a threat throughout the game, Joe Aribo got another assist and Alfredo is back with a bang which is probably the most pleasing thing, aside from the points.’ Despite extending their lead over a Celtic side with four games in hand ahead of tonight’s clash with Hibs, Gerrard played down any title talk. ‘We don’t look at the gap,’ he said. We look at Motherwell next Sunday. That’s the next challenge. ‘The idea today was to try and stretch that lead. We came to do a job and win the game. ‘There are a lot of games in hand with the situation, so we just enjoy this win and move forward.’ Insisting that John Beaton’s decision to show a red card to Hedges was the right decision, Gerrard said: ‘I haven’t heard anyone debate that (red card)... I don’t think anyone will. ‘He (Morelos) is about to put the ball in the net from five or six yards and he gets totally wiped out. That’s always been a red card and always will be because he’s denying a goalscoring opportunity. The first red card is one million per-cent right.’ Claiming Aberdeen were lucky to escape a second first-half dismissal for Curtis Main’s aggressive challenge on Borna Barisic, he added: ‘At the time, it certainly looked a dangerous challenge. I haven’t had a chance to look at it back in any detail. ‘It certainly looked like there was intent there. But I don’t want to be saying it should have been this or should have been that. The referee has refereed the game how he saw it and we accept that.’ Welcoming a home game against Paul Hartley’s Cove Rangers in the third round of the Scottish Cup, the Ibrox boss said: ‘Ross Wilson texted me that this morning, but it’s nice to be at home. Paul Hartley is ex-Celtic, so I’m looking forward to that challenge.’