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Rangers: Fans criticise Steven Gerrard over late deployment of substitutes in defeat at Kilmarnock
Plenty of Rangers fans were questioning Steven Gerrard following their team’s defeat to Kilmarnock last night, with the manager’s use of substitutions coming under the microscope on social media.
The visitors had struck first at Rugby Park with a powerful Scott Arfield effort on the half-hour mark and continued to lead going into the final 15 minutes. However, late goals from Stephen O’Donnell and Eamonn Brophy turned the game on its head and gave Kilmarnock the points on a night that saw the ‘Gers fall 10 points behind Premiership leaders Celtic. [via BBC]
Gerrard made two substitutions in the match but the first of those did not come until the 83rd minute, with Greg Stewart replacing Ianis Hagi when the teams were level at 1-1. Florian Kamberi came on for Joe Aribo three minutes later, just before Brophy struck the decisive goal (as per BBC). Before those changes were made, BBC Scotland reporter Thomas Duncan noted that Kilmarnock “took a grip of the match”, with PA Media’s report [via Sky Sports] saying that the ‘Gers “remained vulnerable” when they held a 1-0 lead.
These Rangers fans on Twitter slaughtered the manager for waiting so long to make substitutions at Rugby Park:
See that bit in games your players tire & the opposition is coming back into it?
That’s the bit subs are for
Not just for when you throw away a lead
— CJ (@Cjnovo992) February 12, 2020
Spot on. Fed up with these last min subs. Should be changing things up sooner
— Leona McNab (@LeonaMcnab3) February 12, 2020
Been saying this for ages Gerrard leaves subs way to late
— señor del (@dellbert137) February 12, 2020
I think we can all safely agree the league is now over. Gerrard has to take some blame. I said to my mate at 1-0 we needed to get Davis and kamara on as the midfiled had no control and we couldn’t keep the ball. Forget bad referee decisions, we deserved nothing tonight.
— pop 15 (@Gazzacusgxo) February 12, 2020
What is Gerrard doing to this team. They looked gassed by 65 mins and he doesn’t make a sub till around 75, we were 2nd best all over and looked defeated even before the equaliser. He has lost the dressing room imo over the break. Something had went wrong and it’s on him
— AndyD92 (@AndrewD99237970) February 12, 2020
Subs were 25 mins too late
— James Moore (@NOTELINYI) February 12, 2020
Gerrard appears to either have no clue or no interest in changing things mid game. I just don’t get it. For someone who clearly knows the game he seems unwilling to even try change things up.
— Moonk Calder (@minicoo_master) February 12, 2020
Do you think Gerrard should have made some changes earlier in the game? How much of the blame must he take for this defeat? Join in the discussion by commenting below!
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