RANGERS RUE FREE WEEKEND

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has expressed his disappointment at his team being left idle this weekend.

The runaway Premiership leaders are one of four top-flight clubs left without a fixture after the third round of the Scottish Cup was postponed in conjunction with the temporary suspension of Leagues 1 and 2 earlier this month. Rangers were due to be hosting League 1 side Cove Rangers at Ibrox but no new date has yet been set for the Scottish Cup ties. Four Scottish Premiership fixtures have subsequently been rescheduled for tomorrow but Rangers, along with Motherwell, Ross County and Hamilton Accies, are not in action.

Gerrard’s squad, who maintained their 23-point lead at the top of the Premiership with a 1-0 win over Hibs at Easter Road on Wednesday, will now resume their pursuit of the title against St Johnstone at Ibrox next Wednesday.

“I don’t think we are in control of that, to be honest,” said Gerrard, pictured inset. “I think other people make those decisions and we weren’t asked to play a fixture this weekend.

“We would have preferred to play the cup game (against Cove Rangers) and it would have been an opportunity to use the squad and get people valuable game time.

“So we are a little bit disappointed we don’t have that opportunity but we will use the week as best we can.

"We will give the players a day off to spend with their families and then prepare as best as we can for St Johnstone.”