Rangers boss Steven Gerrard comments on Jermain Defoe penalty

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James Tavernier scored twice and Jermain Defoe added one from the penalty spot for Steven Gerrard’s Glasgow Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday.

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has suggested to the club’s official website that he did not like James Tavernier letting his Ibrox teammate Jermain Defoe take a penalty against St. Mirren on Saturday afternoon.

Tavernier scored twice from the penalty spot, and the former Newcastle United right-back also failed to convert one, as Rangers won the Scottish Premiership game 4-0 at Ibrox with ease.

The 27-year-old defender passed up the chance to complete his hat-trick when he left Rangers striker Defoe take the Gers’ fourth spot-kick of the afternoon.

Fellow striker Alfredo Morelos also wanted to take the penalty, and Rangers manager Gerrard does not seem to have been too impressed.

Gerrard told Rangers’ official website: “It’s Jermain’s home debut if you like and I admire the fact that him and Alfredo both wanted the penalties, but for me it’s important moving forward that James just does the job.

“He’s the number one penalty taker, then it’s Alfredo and then it’s Jermain. But look, the important thing is we scored the goal, but I don’t like to see people grabbing the ball off each other, I don’t think it’s right.”

Warning for trio?

Gerrard’s aforementioned comments suggest that he wants his Rangers players to follow the rule set beforehand.

While it is admirable that Tavernier let Defoe take the spot kick at a time when it was clear that Rangers were going to win the match, but in the future the players should stick to what they have been told by their manager.