Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
GERS EYEING RUGBY PERK
Kilmarnock Rangers
Rugbypark,tomorrow,12pm
STEVEN GERRARD last night insisted his in-form Gers won’t be spooked by Rugby Park – but he warned daylight at the top of the league won’t scare Celtic.
The Light Blues boss is determined to avoid his side’s Ayrshire hoodoo to strike again on Halloween and open up a nine point Premiership lead over the Hoops.
Rugby Park has been a graveyard for Rangers title hopes in recent seasons with just one win on Kilmarnock’s artificial turf in eight visits since
Rangers returned to the top flight.
Gerrard i insisted his men are oozing confidence though on the back of 15 games undefeated and another impressive Europa League win against Lech Poznan on Thursday. The Gers gaffer – who is sweating on the fitness of Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Jack – said: “We know it’s a tricky game, a tough place and we know that our record could and should be better at Rugby Park.
“Killie are a team that are well drilled. They are organised and they don’t give much away. I think the pitch helps them to play that way.
“But it’s another fresh game. It’s an opportunity to go there and try and put in a good performance. We couldn’t be in a better place because our form is good, people are fresh and people are ready.
“It’s a quick turnaround. We have to remain focused and move on very quickly from the performance and win the other night, and switch our attention to a right tricky game over at Rugby Park.
“We’ll be ready. We’re in a good place, we’re in good form. Players are happy. Staff are happy. We’ll go over there and give it our best.”
Gers can leave Celts on the horizon with another win – but Gerrard insisted it’s too early to turn up the fear factor.
He said: “I don’t think we’re too concerned with psychological advantages, and where the table’s at.
“We’re taking each game as it comes. There’s three points available. We want the three points, we’re hungry for the three points.
“I think it would be different if we had the opportunity to go there and be nine points clear with no games in hand.”