WE WENT FOR THEIR THROATS NO CASE FOR THE DEFENCE
Celtic are a good team but have weaknesses in the backline and that’s why.. Gerrard reveals gameplan that KO’d Hoops
RANGERS boss Steven Gerrard lapped up a fourth Old Firm win of the season and it was especially sweet after suffering Scottish Cup pain against St Johnstone.
The Ibrox gaffer spent 72 hours plotting Celtic’s downfall and he was thrilled his plan to target a ropey defence paid off in style with a 4-1 win.
Gerrard said: “Seven days ago I was sitting here really stung and hurt as we’d missed a big opportunity but in terms of the league I can’t ask for any more.
“The consistency levels have been incredible.
“We’ve completely flipped the mood and we thoroughly deserved the win. We scored four really good goals and were a threat throughout.
“We worked on this gameplan for three days. That’s not a long time.
“Celtic are a good team but, with all due respect, there are weaknesses, especially in the backline. I wanted to put two men right up against those centre-halves and cause them problems and for Ryan Kent to continue to do what he does to Scott Brown, which is being a right menace.
“We needed Kemar, Alfredo and Ryan to be the difference for us in the final third and we ran away with it in the end.
“I’m really pleased with the performance. We started the game really well and picked a really aggressive and bold shape today as we wanted to go for Celtic’s throat.
“We did that and took the lead but unfortunately we were sloppy in terms of the equaliser.
“Then again it was us forcing the issue and Alfredo scored a fantastic second. There was also a big moment with the red card but it was the right call.” The only downside for Gerrard was the injury to Borna Barisic.
The Ibrox boss said: “We’ll scan that in the coming days. We’ve got 10 days until the next game and hopefully that helps.
“If Borna is ruled out, it could be down to six subs.”
Roofe stole the show but Gerrard was delighted defender Jack Simpson strolled though his Old Firm baptism of fire.
He said: “It was his first start in a game of this magnitude for us. We trusted he could do it. He had a couple of moments within the game.
“We’ll analyse his display and so will he because he’s a kid who wants to get better.
“He did a lot well. He was up against one of the best players in the league in Odsonne Edouard, who gets assisted by Moi Elyounoussi and David Turnbull.”
Meanwhile, two-goal hero
Roofe insisted the hammering of Celtic was the mark of true champions.
It also brought huge personal satisfaction after his emotional roller-coaster of a campaign that included on-field crimes and punishment.
As the goals were flying in at Ibrox, it was a far cry from the lows of the 28-year-old’s season.
He copped a two-match ban for serious foul play against St Johnstone’s Murray Davidson in
I wanted to put two men right up against the centrehalves and cause them problems STEVEN GERRARD REVEALS HIS POINT OF ATTACK AGAINST CELTIC
February and that was followed by a four-game UEFA suspension for a clash with Slavia Prague keeper Ondrej Kolar.
Roofe said: “The result says it all. It was a big game for us because of the way this month has been and the last few games for myself personally.
“This match was massive to wrap up the season and remember we are champions.
“It was such a long time ago that we’ve kind of forgotten about that but this game has brought it all back to us.”
Roofe’s astute penalty-box improvisation allowed him to redirect a shot from Ryan Kent into the net via his chest.
A bullet header secured his double and the former Leeds hitman admits his finishes were the reward for patience and weeks of planning for being in the right place when it mattered
He said: “It was all about the reactions and the anticipation. I try to get myself into the right areas and at the right time and fortunately I was.
“The last five or six weeks have been frustrating, on and off the pitch, because things haven’t been going the right way for me.
“In my head I was preparing for a long time for this game as it was an important one.”
All that remains for Rangers this season is a trip to Livingston before pulling the curtain down on this campaign at home to
Aberdeen. The attempt to take their points tally past the 100-point mark and remaining unbeaten are priorities for Roofe and his team-mates.
He said: “I know I keep going on about what’s happened in the last month or so but we won the league a long time ago and now it’s all about remaining unbeaten in the league.
“Every game we try to play for something and that’s what we have to play for now.”