Rangers boss facing a pitch battle at Hibs
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has admitted the poor condition of the Easter Road playing surface could influence his team selection for Wednesday night’s Premiership fixture against Hibs.
The pitch at Easter Road has deteriorated noticeably in recent weeks with Hibs manager Jack Ross conceding after his team’s scrappy 2-0 win over Kilmarnock in their last home match that it made life challenging for ball-carriers and passing sides.
That will be a major consideration for Gerrard, whose team normally adopt a possessionbased style, as he prepares for what he believes will be a major challenge for his runaway league leaders against a Hibs side looking to bounce back from their Betfred Cup semi-final defeat against St Johnstone. “hibs have recruited well, got a good manager but I don't think the playing surface looks too good on the eye from what I've seen in recent games that I have
watched,” said Gerrard. “It will be a challenge, it will be a test. I take everything into consideration all the time. I look at all the details (including the pitch). We always try to pick a team that is capable of winning the game, of course. But certain things you have to take into consideration around that as well.
“But we're in a good place, we're looking forward to it. We've been there and won before . I thought we should have won the last game at Easter Road (a 2-2 draw) in September if we'd have taken our chances.
"We know what we have to do to get what we want.”
Meanwhile, Gerrard has not given up hope that the Rangers faithful will be allowed to pack into Ibrox in time to see his team crowned champions.
The Light Blues are now just nine wins away from claiming the club's first league title in a decade.
But so far the Ibrox legions have been forced to watch their team's relentless march to Premiership glory from home due to coronavirus restrictions.
Gerrard saw his old side Liverpool lift their first league championship in 30 years in front of an empty Anfield last season.
But he hopes it will be a different picture for Rangers in the weeks ahead. "It's not ideal but it's where the world is right now," said Gerrard. "We really feel for the supporters not being able to come and watch the team.
"They follow us near and far. They've done that for many years before I came here. We're trying to do them proud as much as we can.
"From game to game we'll keep trying to do them proud.
"We know they're with us in a different way but we have to accept where the world is right now.
"It's fantastic to see the (virus) numbers are improving and dropping. Hopefully at some point in the near future it will be safe to return them because they play such a big part here.
"That's what this club has been built on and what it's about - the fantastic support.
"We want them back as soon as possible."