FOR FIREWORKS Martindale feels Livi got away with penalty call
There was soon a pause in play as supporters set off fireworks outside the stadium. As the clock ticked into the 55th minute, the cold night sky was lit up and Rangers fans could be heard singing as they started the title party early.
Morelos should have taken Rangers another step towards the league flag but he couldn’t beat Stryjek from the edge of the area. Rangers would continue to search for the opener.
The change that saw Cedric Itten replace Scott Arfield had been a long time coming and Rangers needed a spark. It should have been Morelos that provided it but he would fire across target and wide of the far post when both Itten and Kent were waiting for a pass inside the area.
The striker was now collecting an unwanted handful of missed chances. When Goldson nodded a
Barisic corner down, Morelos was unable to convert from close range and the game was there to be won going into the final ten minutes.
It was Morelos who would do it. Rangers had pushed and probed to no avail but they got their break when Stryjek failed to gather a Davis shot and the striker would convert from close range.
The emotions on the Rangers bench were very different this time around and Gerrard’s players would rush to celebrate together as he watched on from the stands behind the dugout.
Gerrard may well have to watch the crowning moment from that same vantage point. Rangers can certainly enjoy the view from the top of the table as sights are set on the silverware.
DAVID MARTINDALE admits Livingston ‘got away with one’ as he expressed his understanding for Steven Gerrard over the penalty call that saw him see red at the Tony Macaroni Arena.
Gerrard was sent off by referee John Beaton for angrily remonstrating with him over his decision to book Alfredo Morelos for diving during a first half flashpoint.
The Colombian would go on to score the only goal of the game as Rangers moved to within four points of the Premiership title this term.
Martindale said: “We got away with one in the first half so I could understand Steven Gerrard’s reaction, of course I could.
“I’d have been the same. Your emotions are high. They’re chasing title 55 and haven’t won it for 10 years.
“John didn’t mean to make a bad decision but your emotions take over and I can understand 100 per cent his frustrations.
“The performance was there from the boys, they were fantastic up until Rangers scored the winner.
“You won’t dominate the ball against the Glasgow clubs, especially Rangers who have been fantastic, so you have to go in with a gameplan.
“It worked for 95 per cent of the game as we forced them into a lot of long, straight balls. It worked to a certain degree and we made a few chances ourselves.
“Jon [Guthrie] should have got on the end of one in the second half at a corner. He just had to make contact and it would have gone in and Josh had a shot late on but it was blocked.
“Max [Stryjek] didn’t have much to do. It was bog standard what he did have to do but he should maybe have done a bit better at the goal but the intensity and energy was there.
“The boys are fit. We work them hard, six days a week. We train and play at the same intensity so when it comes to matchday it’s a bit easier.”