We must do better to beat Saints in Scottish Cup, admits Gerrard
manager Steven Gerrard bemoaned ‘poor game management’ by his reshuffled team as they conceded a 94th minute equaliser from the penalty spot in a 1-1 draw against St Johnstone at Mcdiarmid Park.
But Gerrard admitted the outcome of the Premiership fixture was always of secondary importance in his mind to next Sunday’s Scottish Cup quarter-final between the sides at Ibrox.
On a night when both halves of the Old Firm failed to win, Leigh Griffiths netted in 93rdrangers minute equaliser to earn Celtic a 1-1 draw at Aberdeen, Hibs booked their place in Europe and Kyle Lafferty scored a firsthalf hat-trick in Kilmarnock’s 3-0 win over Dundee United.
That result takes Tommy Wright’s team five points clear of bottom spot in the battle to avoid relegation. Rangers made seven changes to their line-up, including a return from injury for captain James Tavernier who played for 62 minutes.
“We started the game really slowly and finished it really slowly as well,” said Gerrard. “Everything in between, I thought we were just okay. I have got no complaints with the scoreline.
“As soon as our game against Celtic last Sunday finished, I made every decision tonight before the game and during the game with an eye on the weekend and I am content where we are because everyone is available and fit for selection.
“I gave the squad players some game time, which will be useful moving forward. James has come through fine and we nearly sneaked a result by just playing olay.
“We didn’t play any better than that. We should have seen the game out with better game management but unfortunately we didn’t. But I think St Johnstone more than deserved something out of the game.”
Scott Wright provided a positive for Rangers with his first goal for the club, putting them ahead before Liam Craig’s last gasp leveller from the penalty spot.
“Since Scott has come in, everything we have asked of him, he has done really well,” said Gerrard.
“He is really professional, we are working hard with him on and off the pitch. He is up to speed, he looks ready now to contribute and it was a really tidy finish. Again, he showed some flashes but again there are things he can work on, but so can a lot of other people on tonight's performance. We are really pleased with Scott.”
Gerrard refused to be too critical of Kemar Roofe for his attempt to score from around the halfway line rather than just hold onto possession in stoppage time with Rangers 1-0 up. The English forward scored a stunning goal from that range against Standard Liege earlier this season.
“As a team, we are 1-0 up and you have got to make better decisions, decisions for the team rather than yourself,” added Gerrard. But he has tried that before and scored from the halfway line, so who am I to tell him? As a group, we have been really good this season with our game management and parking our ego up in the final moments of the game. Unfortunately tonight we paid for it. It was a penalty,
we should have won the initial header and it was a combination of small errors.”
Nathan patterson appeared as a substitute for Tavernier as Rangers still await the outcome of their appeal, heard on Tuesday, against the Scottish FA suspension of the teenage full-back and four other players for a breach of coronavirus regulations.
“It is out of our control,” said Gerrard. “It happened last night late at 6.30pm, which wasn’t ideal in terms of preparation because we didn’t know if we could include the boys or not.”
Aberdeen manager Stephen Glass was proud of his team’s performance, despite conceding a last-gasp equaliser at Pittodrie
He said: "My biggest emotion is pride. We asked them to put in a performance that was needed to get a result against Celtic and I think they gave it.
"Attacking-wise, we had opportunities to score goals. the bulk of the game was defensive - we were very well drilled and organised and they were determined to stick to their tasks.
"I feel that they were unfortunate, but I am really proud of our group of players.
"The frustration is that we lose a goal in the last minute, of course. But I think the work rate they put in and the way stood up to the task, we prevented Celtic from making real opportunities.
"When we broke, we broke with speed and energy and probably should have scored a couple of goals."
Celtic interim manager John Kennedy: "We had big moments to equalise in the first half and that's something we need to fix.
"It's happened several times this season and it's set us back. The boys are trying, that's for sure, but things haven't quite dropped. We need to work through that and overcome that.
"We have big players with quality. I see them on a daily basis. But it's in those moments, maybe having a wee bit of doubt and not being ruthless enough. The best players finish in the big moments, so that's what need to try and become."
On substitute Leigh Griffiths, who found the late equaliser, Kennedy says: "He's training well just now, got himself in better shape. He's a penalty box player and it's good for him to come on and get the goal."
Meanwhile, Ross County boss John Hughes lamented defensive lapses after they slipped back into the Premiership's relegation playoff place after losing out 3-1 to St Mirren in Dingwall.
Hughes said: “If we had got 2-0 at half time it could have been a different game."
"The goals that we've conceded are the same as we have against Inverness and Kilmarnock it's bread and butter stuff. It's the do's and the don'ts of football. We weren't resolute enough in the second half. Even at 1-1 you're still in the game so to concede the second and third goals is criminal.”