Derek Ferguson claims key Rangers trio should have been ‘hooked’ at HT v Motherwell
Derek Ferguson has claimed that Rangers should have hooked Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent and Ianis Hagi at half-time against Motherwell.
The attacking trio offered very little at Fir Park, and all three were replaced before the full-time whistle in the 1-1 draw.
Steven Gerrard had to rely on Cedric Itten to rescue a point, with Brandon Barker and Jermain Defoe also coming onto the pitch and almost scoring the winner.
Speaking on the Blues Brothers Podcast, Ferguson was critical of that trio and admitted that Gerrard should have taken them off earlier.
“Even the manager said at half-time, he could have hooked the three forward-thinking players, and I think he should have,” he said.
“Just gives them a little reminder that if you don’t get to the standards that we’re accustomed too, the other guys on the bench will get that opportunity.
“I think we have got to be critical of the team.”
All three weren’t at their best on Sunday.
Morelos was the only one to come close, with his glancing header in the first-half going agonisingly wide of the post.
Defoe and Itten made a real difference.
The Swiss colossal obviously nodded home the equaliser, and the veteran Defoe highlighted why he is so dangerous in the box, making smart moves and almost scoring the winner.
With Kemar Roofe presumably ruled out against Ross County on Saturday, it will be intriguing to see if Gerrard is tempted to ring the changes, especially in the final third.
In other Rangers news, McLeish backs Bears to exchange ‘smashing’ talent to complete this deal in the January window