FRENCH LESSON
Outclassed... but Gerrard says Rangers can progress
STEVEN GERRARD insisted Rangers can still qualify from Europa League Group A after his side were punished for costly errors in an opening defeat to Lyon.
A sensational curling finish from Karl Toko Ekambi gave the Ligue 1 side the lead midway through the opening period.
Lyon sealed a merited win when an Islam Slimani shot cannoned off Connor Goldson and then James Tavernier to go down as an own goal from the Ibrox skipper.
Ryan Kent — later taken off with a hamstring injury — lost possession in the build-up to both goals and Gerrard lamented the defensive lapses that contributed to a first home group stage defeat of his four-season
bosses in London will now report the matter to European football’s governing body. Sutton took to Twitter last night to say: ‘I’m not allowed to work on the Celtic game tonight from a studio at Ibrox along with Neil Lennon as Stewart Robertson the Rangers CEO says we are a security risk. Good to see Rangers’ groundbreaking diversity and inclusion campaign “Everyone Anyone” is working well…’ BT Sport were forced to make late alternate plans, hosting the Celtic game from their studios in London with Stiliyan Petrov stepping in as a pundit, and will now review whether they continue to host live presentations at Ibrox. In a statement, BT Sport said: ‘We had hoped that Darrell Currie and the team would be able to present the coverage of both the Celtic and Rangers UEFA Europa League games live from Ibrox this evening, as we have done in the past. Rangers have since raised security concerns and so we have had to change our plans.’ Rangers responded, saying: ‘We have complied with all UEFA contractual obligations to facilitate BT as host broadcaster. Any conjecture or speculation is both inaccurate and unhelpful.’ Sportsmail understands that Lennon is now considering possible legal action for loss of earnings as a consequence. Meanwhile, Police Scotland are investigating reports that Lyon’s team bus was vandalised before last night’s game. A police statement read: ‘Around 8.30am on Thursday, 16 September, police received a report of a bus being vandalised outside a hotel in Old Greenock Road, Langbank. ‘Enquiries are continuing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.’