Gerrard laments individual defensive mistakes and ‘big decision’ to disallow Morelos goal at crucial time

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard blamed basic defensive errors after their unbeaten European record ended with a 4-3 defeat by Spartak Moscow.

His side took the lead three times in the first half but were pegged back after each of the first two goals when Jon Flanagan was twice caught out at left-back. Rangers then conceded twice in a minute just before the hour mark.

It was a first defeat in 12 Europa League matches under Gerrard and saw Rangers slip from top of Group G to third place.

“I’m very disappointed with the result,” the Rangers boss said. “You saw the two sides of our performance.

“We attacked very well, we looked very dangerous and countered very bravely and got our rewards for that. We were in control of the game until half-time but football is about levels and if you don’t defend properly, high-level teams will punish you.

“Players who have had a lot of praise, who have done very, very well to get us to this opportunity, just didn’t do the basics well. The goals we conceded in the first half were nothing to do with tactics, they were to do with individual basic errors.

“The message at half-time was, ‘it’s 3-2, if you defend better we either win or at worst come away with something’. But we had a terrible five minutes and were punished.

“Normally you come away to a place like this and get three goals, you expect to at least get a result. We should have had four goals but that’s another story. I’m bitterly disappointed with how we defended.”

Gerrard was alluding to a disallowed goal by Alfredo Mo re los before half-time with Rangers 3-2 up. Replays suggested it was onside. Asked if it was a big decision, Gerrard said: “It is now of course and it’s difficult to answer questions like that without saying the wrong thing and getting into big, big trouble.

“We lost the game because of ourselves defensively but on another night we could have come away with a 4-4.”