WE MUST REDISCOVER THAT VITAL SPARK, INSISTS GERRARD

happening in the final third. It is vital that we find it. As it stands right now, we are four points off the top.

‘But that is not important unless we find our spark in the final third. It has not been there over the four games we’ve played since we have come back.’

Gerrard started Alfredo Morelos for the first time since his red card at Celtic Park at the end of December and introduced new signings Ianis Hagi and Florian Kamberi late on in the game.

There was frustration for the manager that Morelos couldn’t shake off some of the rust following the mid-season break and subsequent three-game suspension.

‘There was a big moment in the first half when we were in down the right, two v one, and Alfredo has to find Ryan Kent, who would have a free shot on goal,’ insisted Gerrard. ‘Then Alfredo has had his own chance which, 99 times out of 100, he normally wins us the game in that situation. With that chance, he looked to me like he had missed a few games of football. But what can we do about that?

‘Give him games, get him back to 100-percent sharpness and he takes those chances.

‘I sit here every single week talking about how good Alfredo is.

‘It is very rare that I sit here saying he had the two big moments for us and, unfortunately, he couldn’t deliver.

‘We could easily be sitting talking about a 1-0 win but we have not taken our big moments. I don’t think you are going to get a lot of moments against Aberdeen, the way they play with their organisation.

‘There are a few players around the squad at the moment who are capable of helping us find that spark. They now need to come with us.’

Tavernier remained on the bench yesterday in his first appearance in the Rangers squad since appendix surgery. ‘We have missed Tav, of course we have,’ admitted Gerrard. ‘He’s our captain, he’s a big contributor in the dressing room.

‘We missed Alfredo against Hearts. When you have got players of that level and importance to the team, you are always going to miss them.’

In the wake of that Tynecastle loss last week and yesterday’s draw, Celtic can skip seven points clear at the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership with a win at bottom club Hamilton today.

When asked if Rangers could afford any more slip-ups, Gerrard replied: ‘If you look at Celtic’s form, probably not.

‘But I have been around the game long enough to know that there will be twists and turns. And remember, there are still six points to play for in Old Firm games.

‘We need to try to get back to the level we were at before the break. That is the key, that is the most important thing. As far as I’m concerned, we keep going, we keep pushing. But I need my players to find their spark.’

Debutant Hagi, on loan from Belgian club Genk, has offered to be that man if given the opportunity from the start.

Fellow new boy Kamberi will miss the midweek home game against parent club Hibernian and is cup-tied for next Saturday’s trip to face Hamilton.

Hagi said: ‘I felt good coming on. Everything has happened so fast for me and it’s just my second day at the club.

‘I have a lot of work to do, to create a chemistry with my new team-mates quickly. But, hopefully, we’ll get that and everything will go well.

‘I feel fit and ready for Wednesday (against Hibs), but that doesn’t depend on me. You have to ask the coach for his decision in the next game.

‘Hopefully, I can show my qualities and help the team as much as I can.’