Gerrard: Missile throwing has no place in football
Steven Gerrard has slammed the individual involved in a missile-throwing incident that left an assistant referee requiring medical treatment at Livingston yesterday, writes Alan Pattullo.
The Rangers manager stressed there was no place in football for this type of behaviour on a worrying day on and off the park for the Ibrox club. Gerrard watched his side lose 1-0 and drop to sixth place in the Premiership after falling to a first-half goal by Dolly Menga at the Tony Macaroni Arena. Midway through the second half far-side assistant
referee Calum Spence drew referee Craig Thomson’s attention to the fact he had ju steen hit by a missile thrown from the crowd. Blood could be seen from a wound on the back of his head.
The object was thrown from the East Stand, one of the three allocated to Rangers fans. Thomson stopped play for Spence to receive treatment from Livingston physio Andrew Mackenzie. Gerrard was short and to the point afterwards. “I don’t think that belongs in football, does it?” he said. “I think we all know that’s not right. He [the so that’s not assistant referee] right.” is trying to do a job
Rangers have requested television footage of the incident and will study the pictures, which show a spectator throwing something and then the assistant referee buckling moments afterwards. The SPFL is also set to investigate and Thomson will include the incident in his referee’s report, submitted to the SFA today.
After two emphatic victories in the league, Gerrard was disappointed to see his side prove so toothless yesterday. He said: “Listen, Livingston deserved to beat us today. If we showed that quality on grass Livingston would have beaten us on grass today. We’re not going to start blaming the pitch. We were excellent at Kilmarnock. I wouldn’t blame the pitch.”
Rangers are still looking for their first away victory in the league this season, but will now look to bounce back in the Europa League on Thursday against Rapid Vienna, who sacked their manager Goran Djuricin yesterday after a third straight league defeat. Rangers also face a vital league clash with league leaders Hearts at Ibrox on Sunday.
Gary Holt is unbeaten as Livingston manager after five games, including a win over Hibs and a draw with Hearts which brought the league leaders’ winning run to an end. They now sit equal second in the league on points. “We were the favourites to go down,” said Holt. “We are still the favourites. We could lose seven games in a row. It’s early days. Enjoy today, but then we put it to bed and look to next week.”