Gerrard takes blame as Rangers lose first Old Firm clash of the season
Ibrox boss admits he may have got his team selection wrong in 2-0 defeat by rivals
Last updated 1st Sep 2019
Manager Steven Gerrard admitted that some of his decisions were "part of why" Rangers lost 2-0 to Celtic in the season's opening Old Firm game.
Rangers are three points behind Celtic in the Scottish Premiership after goals by Odsonne Edouard and Jonny Hayes at Ibrox caused a first loss in 12 games.
But Gerrard refused to be overly critical of his side.
He said: “Maybe with hindsight you go back to the team you pick and the gameplan.”
Gerrard left out Alfredo Morelos from his starting line-up, preferring Jermain, Defoe, and did not use any of his wide players like Sheyi Ojo or Jordan Jones until later in the game
He admitted that those decisions contributed to his side suffering just a second defeat in their last 19 matches.
He said: "I'll certainly analyse myself but I don't want to stand here and pass on the blame on to the dressing room.
“The dressing room has been fantastic for me. But I'm part of why it went wrong today.
"Once the dust settles we'll analyse it properly, but it's three points and there's still an awful lot of football to play. We're four points better off than we were this time last year."
Gerrard, though, had little sympathy for substitute Jordan Jones, who was sent off in stoppage-time.
The former Kilmarnock winger was shown a straight red card after a late slide tackle on Moritz Bauer.
He said: "Without a shadow of a doubt it was a red card
"I think Jordan was maybe trying to appease the fans - that's not how you appease fans. You do it by creating and scoring goals if you're a wide man, not by kicking people when the ball is 10 yards away.
"He deserves his red card, he deserves his ban and he's got everything to do now to get back in my team.