Gerrard: I can’t defend Jones – he deserved his red card
STEVEN GERRARD admitted Rangers winger Jordan Jones could have no complaints about being sent off for his late challenge on Celtic right back Moritz Bauer at Ibrox yesterday.
Northern Ireland internationalist Jones, who came on for Joe Aribo in the second half, was red carded by referee Bobby Madden in the sixth minute of injury-time after lunging in on Celtic’s Austrian full-back.
“He totally deserved it,” said Gerrard. “I think it has come from frustration, but if you are Jordan Jones and you want fans on your side you create and score goals.
“You don’t kick people when the ball is already gone. And get a silly red card and get yourself injured.
“I can’t defend Jordan on that. It is the one moment where we have lost control since coming back this season. I’m disappointed in that and I’m sure the player is as well.”
Gerrard was incensed when Celtic midfielder Callum McGregor scythed down Rangers player Scott Arfield in the middle of the park in the first half. Madden didn’t book McGregor for the challenge.
But the Ibrox manager refused to use that as an excuse for a bitterly disappointing defeat his side suffered to their city rivals.
“Listen, I think in the main the officials handled the game okay,” he said. “I am not going to shift any blame or point any fingers.
“We deserve all the blame that is coming our way. But there were two or three blatant yellow cards that should have been addressed because then there maybe could have been another one in the second half.
“But sometimes in these games as a referee, you have to let certain things go as otherwise you’ll have the cards out every five or ten minutes.
“I’m certainly not going to put fingers the officials.”
Meanwhile, Gerrard denied that Rangers were interested in taking Manchester City and England under21 international midfielder Phil Foden on loan. “I don’t think Pep Guardiola will let him go anywhere,” he said.
“We were not in for him.”