We Must Forget The Scoreline

STEVEN GERRARD says Rangers must forget the scoreline as they prepare for tomorrow night’s Europa League first round qualifier second-leg against St Joseph’s.

The Gers boss says it is vital to keep momentum going, despite having a four goal advantage from the first-leg.

Speaking to RangersTV, he said: “I think it is the first competitive game at Ibrox everyone is looking forward to, the players, the staff and I’m sure the supporters are as well.

“We have had great support in the last couple of friendlies we have had, I think we have had close to 25,000 which is amazing but I am told it is going to be close to a full house and European nights under the lights at Ibrox are always special so I can’t wait.

Gerrard says fans can expect a different team to run out at Ibrox tomorrow, but one that will be up for the game.

He added: “I don’t want to give my team away but we will look different. One thing is guaranteed, we will be at it, we will be up for it and I think we have to forget the scoreline in this situation and just go and play this game in isolation.

“From a personal point of view I don’t see it as putting a weakened team out or I don’t think drastic changes weaken us too much where we are right now, which is great news.”

The Rangers boss said was pleased with how the players dealt with St Joseph’s challenge in the first-leg.

He said: “I learnt things in the first leg, just playing in the Europa, away from home and being on a difficult pitch in hot conditions is always a challenge and a test.

“I think St Joseph’s basically set us a challenge – we are not really going to be ambitious, come and beat us, come and try and beat the block and we’ll try and counter attack you.

“The players stood up to that challenge really well and there were times last season when we had a bit of trouble playing against that type of opposition.

“It is early days and we still have lots and lots of work to do and lots of improving to do if we are to compete for the big prizes out there.

“I can only speak about in the now and we have started pre-season really strong.