Only one word describes it – Barry Ferguson worried by Gerrard problem at Rangers
Barry Ferguson has cast doubts over the mentality of the Rangers players and is worried complacency has crept into their game as they eye the Premiership finish line.
The former Gers captain has expressed his concern that Steven Gerrard’s side are sauntering their way to the title after being held 1-1 at Motherwell on Sunday.
It was a disappointing display that featured a particularly sluggish first-half as they fell behind to an early Devante Cole opener at Fir Park.
While the Light Blues battled back in the second period and levelled through substitute Cedric Itten, Ferguson was left unimpressed, telling the Daily Record: “There’s only one word to describe what Gerrard was seeing slipping into his team. Complacency.
“And that should set an alarm bell ringing even though Rangers are now sitting 20 points clear at the top of the table and closing in on a first top tier title in 10 years. In fact, especially because they are.
“That was always my biggest fear whenever we were in a comfortable position on top of the league.”
Too soon to cast aspersions
As former skipper Ferguson certainly knows the standards required at Rangers and what is needed to maintain those levels.
However given that this was Rangers’ first dropped points in the Scottish Premiership since a 2-2 draw at Hibernian on September 20 surely it is hard to be too critical of Gerrard’s side just yet.
Yes, the Gers have not scored more than twice in a game since a 3-0 win at St Johnstone on December 23, six games ago, but they have still won five times and kept three clean sheets in that period, seeing off Old Firm rivals Celtic in the process.
They are still unbeaten in the Premiership and in Europe with their only loss of the season coming against St Mirren in the League Cup quarter-final.
That is an unbelievable record and one that they have every chance of carrying on until the end of the season, in the league especially.
Calling for more urgency and concentration is never a bad thing and Ferguson has every right to demand more given the standards Rangers have set this season, but perhaps it is too quick to jump to conclusions and attach the term complacency to a side that have been so consistent in this campaign.
In other Rangers news, Kris Boyd praises Gers outcast linked with move away.