Gerrard hits out at officials as Gers edge it

RANGERS 1 LIVINGSTON 0

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard criticised referee Euan Anderson and his team of officials after the Light Blues narrowly beat Livingston at Ibrox yesterday.

The game had been postponed on Saturday due to a waterlogged pitch.

Midfielder Scott Arfield scored with a drive in the 59th minute, with striker Alfredo Morelos and substitute Florian Kamberi subsequently having the ball in the net only to be ruled offside.

Gerrard, whose side are still 10 points behind Celtic but with a game in hand, claimed Morelos’s strike at 1-0 should have stood and that his team should have had a penalty in the second half for an apparent handball by Livi defender Ciaron Brown to stop Rangers defender Connor Goldson getting on the end of a corner.

Gerrard said: “We aren’t firing on all cylinders at the minute so it is important that you get the over the line and we did that today but we could have done it more convincingly.

“Disappointed in the officials today, I must say. When they look back at their performance I think they will be disappointed.

“I think he got the second one just right. We accept that one but Morelos’ one is onside and there is a stonewall penalty. It is a blatant handball.

“The referee said to Goldson that he couldn’t give it because of the conditions. He didn’t mean it. That is new to me.

“I don’t like talking about officials especially after a defeat because you can look like the violin is out or you are looking for excuses but when I think the timing is right, I must say I was disappointed in them.

“People will probably look at highlights and think Rangers rode their luck because they hit the post but if we had the right officials that would have been a 3-0 win.”

Lion tamer: Scott Arfield, right, celebrates after scoring the winner for Rangers in the 59th minute