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Steven Gerrard dismisses excuse and reveals details of Motherwell email

Rangers boss Steven Gerrard dismisses any excuse for his side’s 1-1 draw against Motherwell and reveals details of their heads up email.

Stevie G how he was left having to give his sloppy Rangers players a good talking to at half time so that they could keep hold of their unbeaten league run against Scottish Premiership’s bottom of the table Motherwell.

Graham Alexander’s side will left frustrated at not being able to get his first top flight win against Rangers at Fir Park in nearly two decades.

He wasn’t pleased at all, saying that Cedric Itten should have had his leveller ruled out for offside.

The striker came on as a substitute early in the second half and got his fourth goal in three games against Motherwell to gain back a point for his side.

Devante Cole had put Alexander’s side one up into a first half lead but Itten cancelled it out with his 72nd minute header to put Rangers 21 points clear of current holders Celtic.

Motherwell however climb off the bottom with the draw, ahead of rivals Hamilton but just on goal difference.

Gerrard revealed how the hosts’ chiefs had warned him that the Fir Park pitch was in a poor state before the game but he refused to use that as an excuse for his players poor showing in the first half.

He said: “I had to get into the players at half-time. If you look at our first half performance, we were too passive in key areas of the pitch.

“I was going to make a change at half-time but I thought I’d give people a little bit more time. We have ourselves to blame for the outcome because we never came to this game until half-time.

“We had to get into them at half time and demand more from them in and out of possession. We got a reaction from them. We were really good in the second half and we were unlucky not to get another goal or two.

“As a group we all know where we are at and where we are trying to get to. Last week the players were outstanding for 60 minutes but we left the game too early. Today it was a little bit the opposite.

“We had an email off Motherwell to be fair a few days ago talking about the standard of the pitch but we knew that at this stage of the season you’re not going to get perfect pitches. Ibrox isn’t perfect at the moment.

“It was just to give us an early indication about the pitch and that if the weather turned we could have an issue, and also to say Motherwell had to use it and it was not in the usual condition.

“It’s normally a fantastic pitch here. It was a heads up that if we had a period of weather that was bad the game could be 50-50. Thankfully the game went ahead, we appreciated the heads up but it’s nothing for Motherwell to be ashamed of.

“You see all the pitches, you saw Hibs’ pitch on Sportscene, Celtic Park, Ibrox, a lot of people are having issues with pitches because of the weather we’ve had and this stage of the season.

“We have to be ready for these types of environments and these pitches and we have to get on with it and do what we can. I don’t think the pitch was to blame for our first 45 minutes because you can’t blame a pitch for being passive and having no quality.

“In an ideal world we want to play on a perfect pitch but at this stage it’s not going to be the case but there’s no fingers pointed at Motherwell because given the weather and the conditions and the country we play in, it is what it is.”

Graham Alexander said after the game: “When you’re 1-0 up there is a tendency to try and protect and, although I didn’t see it at the time, it looks like an offside goal got them a point.

“It’s frustrating because you can only control your game and your positions so if someone is offside then you’re controlling it by holding a good line.

“It was only after the game when someone showed me the still and a bit of footage and that hurts us a little bit but it’s good the players are frustrated at taking a point who are unbeaten this season.

“The boys deserved a little bit more because of what they’ve put in not just today, but the whole week. But it’s a step forward for us and another point on our tally.”

Fans reacted as Steven Gerrard dismisses any excuse and reveals details of the Motherwell email…

@kennydub22: Is it just me that thinks it’s ridiculous that Motherwell sent Rangers an email warning them about their pitch. Why? Have Celtic ever received such an email and if they have that’s equally ridiculous.

@JHC17626935: Maybe if you read the whole article it’d help.
Motherwell were concerned that any further bad weather, would lead to the pitch being unplayable.

@kennydub22: So every time there is bad weather and pitch “might” get worse we send emails to opposing teams. It’s ridiculous and the pitch being in that state prob helps Motherwell. Why warn your opposition

@JHC17626935: It wasn’t that the pitch ‘might’ get worse, it was advance notice that it may be unplayable, as I explained in the first tweet.

@kennydub22: That’s not what was inferred by Steven Gerrard. In any event I still think it’s ridiculous – as I stated in my earlier tweet!

@TAPundits: Can someone buy him a mask that fits please?

@marcmfc: Stevie g got a wee head or a big mask this is the big question

@BrysonRab: Scouser probably big mouth

@JohnSmi44510279: Was pretty poor. Players having to take an extra touch all the time. Slowed us down.

@IanMFC: Cry harder pal x

@FoolsAndFooty: Just you worry about relegation. Let the big boys play proper football

@Del1589: More excuses, bad enough Boyd and the wee weasel Neil McCann greeting about the pitch today as well!

There were more reaction as Steven Gerrard dismisses any excuse and reveals details of that Motherwell email…

@WestMidsLoyal: I feel flat after that. We’ve missed a huge opportunity, that’s because we’ve started slowly & our best players failed to turn up when it mattered the most. You cannot win league titles with your best players throwing in 5 out of 10 performances. Gerrard needs to have words.

@Tedii69: Fair reflection, kick them up the arse and onto the next game

@tailso1988: Somebody might be able to correct me but gerrard seems to be only one who wears a mask in match interviews

@BorlandDunk: We have a title to win they should be up for every game

@SDF1872: He could say that about a lot of our games recently to be fair.

@themarcstewart: Take a shot everytime he fixes his mask.

@rdonno1: Can someone please fix their masks? It’s annoying the life out of me and I’m not even the wearer.

@ChommyT: Just give the half time speech before kick off.

@rapwest: Get a bit of gaffer tape down the hooter onto that mask…why do you think it’s called Gaffer tape.

@JT3106: Wish someone would gie the gaffer a mask that fits..

@NYCRFC: I counted 17 times he had to adjust mask. Found myself focusing on that more than what was being said. Was hoping he’d adjust it 21 times for a laugh.

@Kaizerking8: @RangersTV Need to start games with high tempo…. poor last 3 games

@Royal_Blue1872: unlucky to not get the winner in the second half, first half was terrible. 55 not clear cut yet, must up our game.

@True_Blue_1872: I really like this interview from the gaffer.He’s aware that the last couple of games we’ve only showed up in parts of the game and there’s only so many games you get away with that.Hopefully this is a kick up the arse and we continue our winning ways.

@glasgowsportsfa: Christ, the mad squad will be all over Gerrard for saying repeatedly that we were too passive out of possession. I should know …

@StuPollock1: Summed up perfectly from the gaffer. Nothing lost. Nothing gained. We go into the weekend game looking to get back to winning and tick off the games. We know we can be better but last thing we should be doing is panicking.

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