FOR far too long they were deemed soft touches. Easily beaten when things didn’t go their way and not up for the fight when it mattered. Scott Arfield squares up to Mikey DevlinWillie Vass But Scott Arfield insists yesterday’s battling draw at Pittodrie proves Steven Gerrard’s Rangers won’t be brushed aside by anyone. Down to ten men after just 12 minutes because of Alfredo Morelos’ controversial red card for kicking out at Scott McKenna, the Gers had to dig in and scrap for long spells. Until Bruce Anderson’s 93rd-minute equaliser, Rangers looked like they’d done enough to get three points from one of their main rivals. It wasn’t to be in the end, but the manner of their performance showed things have changed for the better. Arfield said: “Have we shown we’ll be no pushovers this season? I think so. From the first day of pre-season we have worked towards this game. “We are working on standards, expectations, demands of this football club and Aberdeen knew this. “I don’t think previous Rangers teams would have got a result here today given the circumstances, so we should be proud. “If there were 11 men out there, there’d have been only one team in it. Arfield challenges Niall McGinnWillie Vass “It does feel bitter, particularly with the circumstances of going a man down then losing a goal so late. “I thought we’d done enough. I felt there was only one team going to win and it was us. It’s a bitter pill.” The Morelos card split opinion, with both camps making their cases over intent and actual harm. Arfield admits the striker gave ref Kevin Clancy and his assistant David McGeachie a decision to make. But he questioned why ex-Rangers man Dom Ball wasn’t ordered off for his part in the penalty for his side. Arfield added: “I’ve seen it back and Alfredo gives him a decision to make. Whether it was a red or a yellow is up to the ref. For me it was a bit soft. “If you look at the penalty incident, if it is the other way about, does he send one of our men off because it is a goalscoring opportunity? “I think we have got every right to feel like that.” Kevin Clancy shows Alfredo Morelos redWillie Vass Gerrard was quick to air grievance and float conspiracy theories. But Arfield admits having a siege mentality can help Rangers in the months ahead. He said: “I think you have to have that, even if nobody feels like that. In the dressing room, you need to come together and galvanise. The club is huge, an institution. “But it starts from the dressing room and if everybody in there is on the same sheet, it makes it incredibly difficult for our opponents to get something from us. “They got a lucky break and fair play to the lad, it’s a good strike and it goes in the bottom corner. “But the feeling we have got now is one we don’t want to feel again.” Gerrard stuck to his guns when his team went down to ten men and Arfield reckons having that confidence in their original plan paid off. He said: “The game-plan was to go out and go after people and we still did that with ten men. Tavernier opened the scoring from the spotWillie Vass “Alfredo went off but we showed what we have by coming together and showing our tactical awareness. “It was difficult, a tough shift, but we should be proud of ourselves. “I know the circumstances were to blame but draws at this club aren’t good enough.” Rangers lost Ryan Jack to a serious head knock late in the game and he was rushed to hospital following the clash with Stevie May. Arfield heaped praise on the ex-Aberdeen star for showing mental strength to star at a stadium where the abuse is always flying. He said: “Ryan got a nasty knock but he is a top player. “On Thursday against Osijek, I thought he was unbelievable and he was fantastic again here. He keeps it so simple with his tackling. “I think everyone expects him to come to this club in a hostile atmosphere and fly into tackles. Ryan Jack went off injured with a head knockPA:Press Association “But he doesn’t. He is composed, he knows the game, that the fans are up and that their players are going to give him a bit. “He more than matched them. It was another strong performance from him.” Gers losing Jack swung the game in Aberdeen’s favour and Arfield reckons there’s no point in blaming anyone for their loss of impetus. RELATED STORIES JACK WORRY Ryan Jack treated in hospital for head knock after clash with Stevie May EURO NIGHTS Rangers handed huge boost in quest of reaching Europa League group phase DOC TALK Burton Albion enter race for frozen-out Gers midfielder Greg Docherty KID KELLY McCoist wanted to make Sam Kelly an Ibrox star until cash chaos thwarted deal REF OFF Steven Gerrard sensationally claims referees have had it in for Gers for YEARS END GAME Morelos could be finished at Rangers after his Aberdeen red card says Dodds He said: “That is always going to happen when a good player goes off. Ovie Ejaria came on and, for me, technically he is probably the best in the squad. “After a couple of minutes we had chances with Lassana Coulibaly, Ovie and myself breaking and Ryan Kent and Josh Windass getting in behind. “It was just that final pass which was missing and that could have put the game to bed.” Keep up to date with ALL the latest news, transfers and goals from Scottish football plus fixtures, results and live match commentary
Source: Scottish Sun, News
Source: Scottish Sun, News
