Steven Gerrard has now guided Rangers to back-to-back wins against Celtic at Ibrox.
Michael Stewart has claimed that Steven Davis, Glen Kamara, Ryan Jack, Scott Arfield and Ryan Kent ‘suffocated’ Celtic as Rangers recorded a 2-0 win against their Old Firm rivals on Sunday.
The Scottish Premiership champions were second best on the day as James Tavernier and Scott Arfield were the goalscorers in what was a highly-charged game.
Steven Gerrard’s side didn’t allow their rivals to bring the ball out from the back or build up attacks as they continually forced them into mistakes.
Speaking to Sportscene on BBC Scotland (13/05/2019 12:25 am), Stewart explained how Neil Lennon’s side struggled to play their game on the day and suggested that Mikael Lustig isn’t the same player anymore.
“Celtic didn’t have an out ball and they were suffocated in the middle of the park,” Stewart told Sportscene. “The three deep in the midfield of Davis, Kamara and Jack. The two in front of them in Arfield and Kent, who were just able to suffocate that midfield of Celtic’s.
“When they won the ball showing composure to be able to play out again. Pressing the backline – stopping any short passes so the out balls are the fullbacks and for Celtic Lustig is not the same player he was a number of years ago.”
The marker was set early on by the Light Blues because they opened the scoring inside the first few minutes when Tavernier’s free-kick deceived Scott Bain in between the sticks.
Rangers continued to press for a second when West Bromwich Albion loanee Oliver Burke missed a guilt-edge opportunity from point-blank range to level the scores.
After the break, Celtic were punished when Kamara’s brilliant play in the middle of the park resulted in the on-rushing Arfield putting the ball into the back of the net.
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