The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Another slow start to year puzzling Gerrard
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard is baffled by another slow start to a year after his side were held to a goalless draw by Aberdeen.
For the second year running, Rangers have quickly lost the advantage gained by beating Celtic immediately before the winter break.
Last season they lost their first match back against Kilmarnock before dropping four points in early February and losing all hope during a dismal March.
Rangers have been unconvincing since returning this season and the Ibrox draw with the Dons followed last weekend’s defeat by then-bottom club Hearts.
“It’s difficult to put your finger on it because we look into all this,” said Gerrard, who handed brief debuts to Ianis Hagi and Florian Kamberi.
“It’s not fitness, it’s not talent. I’m struggling to put my finger on that right now. It’s on us to find our spark and have more invention in the final third.”
James Tavernier was not risked off the bench after appendix surgery, while Alfredo Morelos, in his first start of 2020 following suspension, failed to convert a one-on-one and set up Ryan Kent for a simple finish.
Gerrard said: “Look, we have missed Tav, of course we have. He is our captain, he is a big contributor in the dressing room.
“We missed Buff (Morelos) at Hearts. When you have got players at that level and how important they are for the team, you are always going to miss them.”
Aberdeen’s point moved them three off third-placed Motherwell.
Boss Derek McInnes said: “I am confident we will deliver better performances in the second half of the season. We are not far off third spot, where we want to be.”