Alfredo stumbles in hunt for 100

NICKNAMED El Bufalo, Alfredo Morelos has a rich and successful history of roaming the plains of European football in search of goals for Rangers. The club’s all-time top scorer on the continent was back in his natural habitat last night; a Europa League tie at Ibrox, a stadium where he says the ‘unconditional love’ he feels from the supporters makes him want to stick around for years to come. Yet it was his manager, Steven Gerrard, who did not miss the target earlier this week when he bluntly demanded more from his star striker than the five times in 15 matches he has found the net this season. So the question on the lips of the Rangers fans was whether Morelos would keep his place after his profligate display in Saturday’s 1-1 home draw with Hearts. However, with the Buffalo Soldier one match away from becoming a centurion, after scoring 99 goals in four years for Rangers, there was no surprise when he got the nod to start. The Colombian international had a few good early touches but it was Joe Aribo who emerged as the Ibrox side’s outstanding attacker. Prior to kick-off, Connor Goldson had told BT Sport the rest of the Rangers team must ease the burden on Morelos and his fellow attackers. Defensive colleague Leon Balogun heeded that call, heading in a terrific James Tavernier corner. After the delirious celebrations, the cameras cut to Morelos scowling away at Fran Jovic after the Croatian referee told him to roll down his shorts so his number could be clearly displayed. But then came a wonderful chance for the 25-year-old (pictured) to grab his 100th goal. Aribo found him six yards out but Morelos headed straight at Thomas Mikkelsen. Kemar Roofe netted the rebound, after VAR rightly overturned an offside ruling. ‘Morelos has got to score,’ said Ally McCoist, who is Rangers’ second-top European scorer, four behind the Colombian’s 25 goals. ‘He’s got to put it to the goalkeeper’s right and finish it off but he didn’t.’ When Morelos hit the post on the stroke of halftime, it looked destined not to be his night. He duly faded from view before an unimpressed Gerrard replaced him with Fashion Sakala with 20 minutes left. The 100th goal must wait. For tough taskmaster Gerrard, however, Morelos’ latest disappointing performance was offset by a fine team win that breathes life into Rangers’ Europa League campaign.