Steven Gerrard says Rangers could have had five penalties in win over St Mirren
Sunday 3 February 2019 20:07, UK
Steven Gerrard claimed Rangers could have had five penalties after they were awarded four in their 4-0 win over St Mirren at Ibrox.
Captain James Tavernier scored from the spot in the third minute, but the home side's second penalty for a challenge on Jermain Defoe was controversial, although Tavernier hit the post with his shot.
The third penalty came in the 55th minute when Tavernier's cross was adjudged to have been handled by Greg Tansey, this time the Ibrox right-back blasting the ball down the middle.
Defoe scored with a penalty after substitute Daniel Candeias was hauled to the ground by Tansey with Ryan Kent dinking in a fourth to take Rangers to within three points of leaders Celtic, who play St Johnstone on Sunday.
Gerrard insisted he believes all of the referee's decisions were correct.
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"Jermain tried to ride the challenge, contact is debatable but he jumped back up and the ref gave it. I don't think myself or Jermain have anything to say on that," Gerrard said.
"I thought all the other penalties were penalties. The handball is first outside the area but he is still handballing inside the area, it is like a catch. The first one was blatant.
"He maybe missed one on Alfredo [Morelos] so there could actually have been five.
"I don't think the first half was good enough, there was improvement in the second half we created a lot more and the 'keeper made some fantastic stops."
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Defoe stepped in to take the fourth penalty with Morelos again looking for the chance to score from the spot.
"I think there was probably three or four people trying to wrestle it out his hands," Gerrard said.
"Moving forward, James will take the penalties. If James is not on the pitch Alfredo will take them, if not Jermain will take them. James is the penalty taker and he is really good at it.
"He missed one today but that is the first one he has missed since I have been here.
"But you can understand centre forwards trying to get on the scoresheet."
