STEVEN GERRARD has challenged Rangers to maintain their title momentum after marking the halfway point of the campaign with a fine 3-0 victory away to St Johnstone.
Rangers consolidated their 16-point lead over Celtic at the top of the table as goals from Kemar Roofe, Glen Kamara and Ianis Hagi earned them a comfortable win at McDiarmid Park.
The first half of the campaign has been an encouraging one for Gerrard and Rangers have now recorded eleven successive league wins as their only blip thus far has come in the Betfred Cup defeat to St Mirren.
The Gers have seen their title challenges falter badly in the second part of the season during both of Gerrard's two terms in charge.
But the Ibrox boss is determined his side will keep their foot to the floor after picking up another crucial three points.
Gerrard said: “I'm very pleased with that. More pleased that we competed well all over the pitch. We really stood up to the physicality of St Johnstone.
“They are a well organised team, they are right up for it and compete well, so we had to first and foremost match that and at the right times we were very clinical and showed our quality.
“We could have scored a few more goals but all in all I'm delighted with the performance.
“This was a tricky game for us just before Christmas so fair play to the players.
“Yeah we're very pleased with our form, we're very pleased with the run we're on in the league.
“With 19 games gone, to return 53 points is a really good effort from the players.
“But it's halfway and there's a lot of football to be played, a lot of games, a lot of twists and turns. The important thing for me is to keep these players focused on the next challenge and that will be tough, because it's against Hibs.
“Well I think the first challenge is to keep people fit and healthy and in a good place and in good form.
“This is a different situation with Covid and this type of stuff, so we need to guard against anything that can come our way.
“But if we keep everyone fit and fresh we're a good team and we'll win football matches. That's the challenge for me, just go game to game.
"Don't get too ahead of ourselves and stay balanced. The games are coming thick and fast and we have to be ready.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel