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Feb 6, 2019 at 7.45pm UK at ​Pittodrie Stadium (Aberdeen)
Attendance: 19,190
Aberdeen
2-4
RangersRangers
Cosgrove (31', 47' pen.)
McKenna (55')
FT(HT: 1-3)
Morelos (20', 38'), Tavernier (43' pen.), Defoe (94')
Morelos (57')

Gerrard sees no need to warn Morelos over discipline against Aberdeen

Gerrard sees no need to warn Morelos over discipline against Aberdeen
© Reuters
The Colombian forward has been sent off twice against the Dons this season.

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard sees no need to have a quiet word with Alfredo Morelos about discipline ahead of Wednesday's trip to Aberdeen.

The Colombian has been sent off twice against the Dons this season – once for kicking out at Scott McKenna and then for two challenges on Graeme Shinnie.

The first red card was downgraded to yellow but the Colombian's indiscipline has proved very costly against Aberdeen. Rangers conceded a late equaliser after his first red card, he missed their Betfred Cup defeat by the Dons through suspension, and Rangers lost at Ibrox after his second dismissal.

Wednesday's contest has second place in the Ladbrokes Premiership as the temporary reward for the winners and there is no love lost between the teams, but Gerrard trusts the 22-year-old striker to keep his composure.

"I'm sure he will be aware of what the atmosphere is going to be like," Gerrard said.

"He has been to Pittodrie on numerous occasions. I spoke to him after the previous red cards so I don't see the point of treating Alfredo any different to anyone else.

"Everyone is aware it's a big game, everyone is aware we have to be disciplined and try and keep 11 men on the pitch, because it's such a big game, such a tough game, it's an intense game because of the rivalry. So I think all the players have enough education to know what I expect of them."

Morelos has been sent off three times in total this season and been booked in a further 13 games, including two of his last three, but Gerrard is happy with the attempts the forward is making to contain his aggression.

"He is trying," Gerrard said. "He is trying his best, I think he is trying to improve that side of his game.

"But I still want him to play on the edge because that's when he is at his best. That's the reason why he is the top scorer in the league, that's the reason why opposition try and nullify his threat and are physical with him because they know he's a top player.

"So we don't want to take that edge away from him, but of course we want to channel it in the right direction."

Rangers travel north six points adrift of leaders Celtic and Gerrard knows they cannot afford many more slip-ups.

"It's a big game for us, a big three points at stake," he said.

"I don't think previous games are important anymore, but obviously we will respect Aberdeen because they took two important results from us late in games and also the first game of the season in the league, they scored late on as well.

"We have to take our chances when they come about, we have to be productive in the final third because we have been guilty of missing chances. To be fair to Joe Lewis, he's made some really good saves against us.

"We have been guilty of giving silly set-pieces away and being punished on a couple of occasions late on."


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Rangers manager Steven Gerrard pictured on November 29, 2018
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