Gerrard says Rangers need to adapt without Morelos

KILMARNOCK 0 RANGERS 0

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard admits they must learn to adapt to the loss of Alfredo Morelos after drawing a blank in the first game of their top goalscorer’s three-match suspension.

Jermain Defoe missed a glorious late opportunity in a goalless draw at Kilmarnock after James Tavernier was denied by Daniel Bachmann from the spot.

Joe Worrall also missed a good headed chance but Gerrard’s men otherwise struggled to carve out chances in the William Hill Scottish Cup fifth-round tie.

Morelos will be back for the replay but will miss Ladbrokes Premiership games against St Johnstone and Hamilton either side of the February 20 contest at Ibrox. And Gerrard knows they need to find a way to play to Defoe’s strengths.

“They are two different types of players,” he said. “They are obviously both very strong in front of goal, but they are very different, so we have to adapt to whoever it is that’s leading the line.

“We also have Kyle (Lafferty) in the running as well. Maybe we might decide to go down a different way.

“That’s for me to work out in the coming days and weeks, but we are definitely in a stronger position when you think about what position we were in with just two strikers in the first six months.

“I’m delighted to have Jermain here, it gives us more firepower, more options to maybe do different things.”

Killie made the better start. Conor McAleny came close from 25 yards after winning the ball inside the Rangers half and Allan McGregor scrambled Chris Burke’s free-kick away from his near post.

The visitors got their latest penalty when Kirk Broadfoot was penalised for handball after he dived on to the deck to block Scott Arfield’s low shot with his body.

Tavernier, had scored three spotkicks and missed one in the past two games, hit his effort down the middle and Bachmann blocked with his foot to follow up his midweek save from Dundee’s Kenny Miller.

The hosts also came close to a first-half goal when Chris Burke’s corner sparked an almighty goalmouth scramble, which ended with Halliday clearing off the line after Mulumbu’s attempt had spun off a Rangers player.

Killie were giving Rangers no time on the ball and putting together some decent passing moves themselves and McAleny almost wriggled his way through everyone before being dispossessed by Halliday’s sliding challenge.

Killie lost Power in the 58th minute after a scrappy start to the second half and Steve Clarke opted to bring on striker Kris Boyd.

Rangers began to dominate possession and territory without cutting their hosts open. Defoe went down in the box to cries of “penalty” from the away fans and accusations of diving from Broadfoot. Referee Alan Muir waved play on.

The chances came in the final 20 minutes for Rangers. Joe Worrall headed wide from inside the six-yard box from Halliday’s corner and Defoe missed a glorious opportunity after McCrorie had robbed Mulumbu and played him clean through.

Killie settled themselves down and got back to being solid to hold out for the lucrative replay.

Killie manager Steve Clarke was far from despondent about losing home advantage.

He hopes to have striker Eamonn Brophy and defender Stuart Findlay back fit for the replay, while Aaron Tshibola was unable to replace Alan Power when his fellow midfielder suffered a head injury, after the on-loan Aston Villa man suffered a thigh strain in the warm-up.

Clarke said: “We have been to Ibrox already this season and didn’t lose. In my time at the club, we always go there, we are always competitive.”

Jermain Defoe watches a second half chance go just wide.