Lundstram: Rangers had pre-season Covid issues
RANGERS slumped to a first Premiership defeat in 17 months after new signing John Lundstram revealed the club’s pre-season preparations had been dogged by ‘a few Covid issues’.
A second-half goal from Dundee United’s Jamie Robson saw Steven Gerrard’s side’s 40-match unbeaten run come to an unexpected end at Tannadice.
Speaking to broadcasters Sky Sports pre-match, Lundstram, a summer signing from Sheffield United, admitted the Ibrox squad had not enjoyed ideal preparation for their title defence.
He said: ‘I think there is a lot more to come from us. It’s only early doors, we had pre-season not long ago and it hasn’t been a great one for everyone.
‘There have been a few Covid cases. So I’m sure once we are up to speed you’ll see a different team.’
Rangers have limited media access to the club this summer and this is the first time there has been any mention of the suggested cases.
Gerrard vowed to impart some ‘home truths’ to his players after watching them slip up in a result that did little for morale ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League qualifier against Malmo.
Rangers trail 2-1 following
last week’s first leg in Sweden and Gerrard admits he has little time to effect the turnaround needed to keep the club in the hunt for a place in the tournament’s group stage.
‘From our point of view, that was not enough, not good enough,’ he told Sky Sports. ‘Over the course of the 90 minutes, I’m not sure we deserved to lose the game but you put yourself in that position if you don’t score goals.
‘When you face a setback, it’s a chance to reset, give some people home truths and analyse. That’s what you do as a manager.
‘We’ve no time to feel sorry for ourselves. We’ve a massive game in three days’ time and we need a higher level of performance.
‘You want to go into that game full of confidence and on the back of a good result. It’s a bigger job for me and my staff to pick them up and get them in the best place for Tuesday night.’
Rangers’ last league loss came in March 2020 when Hamilton’s David Moyo secured a 1-0 victory
at Ibrox. Within weeks of that game, Covid would shut down the country and Rangers used the time in lockdown to great effect, emerging a stronger and more ruthless outfit.
Gerrard admits he must tap back into that mindset quickly. He added: ‘Defeats are always raw. They (the players) have been absolutely top for me in that run but the reality is we’ve now lost two games on the spin.
‘We take responsibility and we will put it right. It’s the perfect opportunity to bounce back. But we have to do a lot better. The result and the performance is on me and my team.
‘I have belief and confidence in my attacking players that they can score goals. That’s when they are at their best, when they show quality and create opportunities.
‘Credit to Dundee (sic), they made it difficult.’
United boss Tam Courts (right), a surprise appointment after the summer departure of Micky Mellon to Tranmere Rovers, had endured a sticky start on opening day as his team lost 2-0 at Aberdeen.
There was some scepticism surrounding Courts’ promotion from his job as academy chief, yet he found a way to elevate his players’ performance to a level not seen since the club’s promotion last year.
He said: ‘When I reflect on last week, I spoke about returning the players to their instincts and how to be disciplined and organised. It was almost like we had to take a bloody nose last week in order to perform this week.
‘It’s a huge three points and it feels monumental but, at the same time, we have to understand why we put that level of performance in and make sure that’s a consistent thing moving forward. I don’t like inferiority complexes. ‘Everyone gets respect and their record and Rangers’ champions status was never really in my mind, it was just about how we were going to unravel the game plan.’ United welcomed a crowd of 4,600 in for yesterday’s game and Courts admitted the fans played their part in helping his team to victory. He said: ‘Our fans have an expectancy in terms of attitude and being the team that throws the first punch. We wanted to be that and the fans responded.’ The display of match-winner Robson, linked with Sunderland and Lincoln City, would have done nothing to deter interested clubs.