RANGERS endured more disappointment yesterday afternoon after dropping points at home to Hearts in the Scottish Premiership.
Steven Gerrard’s team resembled the aggressive, offensive force seen last season in the opening 45. However, after the break a drop in intensity allowed the visitors to creep back into the match.
Craig Halkett’s late equaliser took advantage of an Allan McGregor blunder – but the real cause of dropped points was a lack of incision at the other end of the pitch.
Gerrard spoke Alfredo Morelos, levels to go and the half-time switch in intensity during his post-match presser.
On the dropped points
“We created more than enough to win more than one football match. I thought we were outstanding for 45 minutes – that’s the level that we’ve been searching for this season. But we only showed it for 45.
“I thought we came out in the second half and never really continued to play how we did in the first half. I thought Hearts grew into the game – but we’ve certainly got ourselves to blame. As a group, I think we’ve stitched up Allan McGregor today because we should have been two, three goals out in front.
READ MORE: Rangers miss opportunity to reset the tone as small positives fall victim to wastefulness against Hearts
“Our finishing has got to be better. We’ve got to be more ruthless and we’ve got to take our chances.”
The Ibrox side should have been out of sight by the time Hearts swung in that late corner. Again it seemed they were the largest contributors to dropped points as opposed to the opposition changing the game.
At half-time, everything pointed towards a commanding win and performance but a drop in intensity means all of that good work in the first half largely gives way to frustration.
On the similarities to the Motherwell draw
“At half-time, you’re saying to the lads ‘we need to keep this level, keep creating goals’ – but we need to go and take the points away from Hearts. If you don't do that you always know they’re going to have one or two moments themselves and they did. And they made us pay at the end for us not being ruthless enough at the other end.”
The match was very similar to the visit of Motherwell a few weeks ago. Gerrard said as much when quizzed on the resemblant patterns of either game.
In both ties, his team put themselves in an excellent position but let that domination slip. On both occasions, the visitors would equalise when on the basis of chances, Rangers should have been home and dry.
On the reaction after a ‘warning shot’
“We’ve already had that warning really, the Motherwell result – but what we did do from Motherwell is we reacted really well.
“We’ve got a huge game on Thursday night, we need to try to find the first-half performance for longer. If we do, maybe we can kick-start our form in Europe. Then we’ve got another tough game away at St Mirren.
“We need the reaction from today - I thought with the control and the performance and what we created today, we should be talking about three points rather than one.
“We know performance-wise, consistency-wise and also (in terms of) being ruthless in the final third we’ve still got levels to go to – which is a positive. But also, after a result like today, you can’t keep letting points slip away from you like that.”
The manager is right to focus attention on the visit of Brondby. He’s already branded it a must-win and if Rangers don’t triumph then their Europa League campaign is effectively over.
A positive reaction would go some way to calming supporters’ nerves – they’re well owed a full 90 minutes performance this term.
No one denies that this team have levels to go. The frustration is that they have been unable to find them by the middle of October.
On Alfredo Morelos’ form
“I don’t think he’s at his best. But he’s still getting into the areas and he’s still getting chances. I think he must have had four or five today. So we need to maybe sharpen him up and get him to the next level and I’m sure the goals will come. But he’s certainly not at his outstanding best.”
Morelos not being at his ‘outstanding best’ is something of an understatement. He could feasibly have scored three yesterday but, even aside from the final touch, his overall game felt flat.
The Colombian needs to reward his manager's faith on the pitch. If he can recapture his goalscoring form, his team will win games like yesterday.
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