On Sunday, Steven Gerrard’s Rangers continued what has been a strong start to the season with another win. That took Stevie G’s start to life as the Ibrox gaffer to just two losses in 20 competitive fixtures and whilst beating the league leaders Hearts 3-1 was sweet, the second half performance left the Gers wanting more.
FULL-TIME: Rangers 3-1 Hearts (Kent 3, Morelos 12, Arfield 32 | Dunne 67)
A well-deserved three points for #RangersFC at Ibrox. pic.twitter.com/8G3BHxrGmE
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) October 7, 2018
Two quick goals inside the opening 13 minutes from Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos set Rangers well on their way to victory before Scott Arfield stepped up just after the half an hour mark to make it 3-0 to the home side. However, whatever Gerrard said at the break slowed his side down as despite Michael Smith’s dismissal ten minutes into the second half, Hearts pulled one back through James Dunne on 67 minutes, although the game finished at 3-1.
The Bluenoses are no doubt buzzing to have beaten Hearts, inflicting them with their first loss of the season in the Scottish Premier League, but the way they failed to command the second 45 minutes despite their blistering start was disappointing. Steven Gerrard will know that, though, and he’ll be desperate to ensure that complacency doesn’t feature in their games at Ibrox in the future as the season draws on.
You can read The Gers’ thoughts on their poor second half here:
Poor 2nd half but was always going to be tricky coming out 3 up and kicking on especially after Thursday night. Still lots to improve on…but if you’d offered any of us 3-1 before the game we would have taken it.
— Peter Adam (@petera1872) October 7, 2018
We only needed to turn up for the first half of that game. Just as well for hearts cause it could have ended up 6 or 7.
— Menzies #55 🇬🇧 (@menzies999) October 7, 2018
Excellent first half performance, completely blew Hearts out the water and therefore can understand why we didn’t need to keep the same intensity but that 2nd half performance was unacceptable and I expect Gerrard will make that perfectly clear to his players.
— Dougie (@CF3Loyal) October 7, 2018
Poor second half , blew them away the first take that all day
— Dean Cameron (@Cameron16Dean) 7 October 2018
That will do nicely, job done in the first half #WATP
— James Coghill (@jim_cog) October 7, 2018
great 1st Half bit sloppy in 2nd half
— iain Chatterton (@justiainc) October 7, 2018
The Gers are delighted to have won the game but will expect much better than for their side to be so poor after half time in future matches.
