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Rangers defender Joe Worrall hits out at Celtic’s second-half actions

Joe Worrall of Rangers looks on prior to the UEFA Europa League Group G match between Rangers and Villarreal CF at Ibrox Stadium on November 29, 20...
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Glasgow Rangers defender Joe Worrall was not happy on a day where the Ibrox side were beaten 2-1.

Neil Lennon, Interim manager of Celtic embraces Steven Gerrard, Manager of Rangers ahead of the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Rangers at Celtic Park on March 31,...

Rangers loanee Joe Worrall has hit out at Celtic’s players for going down every five minutes during the second-half during a pulsating Old Firm game on Sunday, Rangers’ official YouTube channel reports.

In an incredible battle between the two sides, the Hoops moved themselves to the brink of securing the Scottish Premiership title as a late James Forrest strike ended the Gers’ hopes of a stunning turnaround.

Steven Gerrard’s men went into the break 1-0 down and one man down as Alfredo Morelos had been sent off for throwing an elbow at Scott Brown during an off-the-ball clash between the pair.

But having failed to register a single attempt while Morelos was on the pitch, Rangers seemed to benefit from losing a player. The Light Blues were much better in the second-half and got themselves back on level terms when Ryan Kent scored an outstanding goal.

They continued to look dangerous, but a mistake from James Tavernier led to Forrest scoring what proved to be the winner. Worrall came agonisingly close to finding another equaliser, but the ball was deflected past the post.

Joe Worrall of Rangers looks on prior to the UEFA Europa League Group G match between Rangers and Villarreal CF at Ibrox Stadium on November 29, 2018 in Glasgow, United Kingdom.

And after the game, Worrall hit out at the Celtic’s players who went down injured after the break and suggested that the stoppages in play were part of the Hoops’ plan to manage the game.

“You’ve got to look at the stats in the second-half,” he told Rangers’ official YouTube channel, when asked if the side believed they could win the game after the break.

“We’ve got 10 men, they’ve got 11. They’re going down every five minutes with an injury. We’re a tough set of lads, we don’t do that. But it’s game management from their side and I’m sure that we could’ve gone on and won had things been a bit different.”

Dedryck Boyata of Celtic battles for possession with Alfredo Morelos of Rangers during the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Rangers at Celtic Park on March 31, 2019...

While Celtic may have perhaps benefited from the stoppages themselves that came from the likes of Kieran Tierney and Dedryck Boyata going down injured, they definitely did not benefit from the pair having to go off, particularly as they had no substitutions left when Boyata came off and had to finish the game with 10 men.

Worrall’s frustration is understandable. But Rangers had a golden chance to produce the most remarkable turnaround, and it was their own mistake that ultimately cost them rather than anything Celtic did when their players picked up knocks.