Rangers were left without a right-back after their captain went off injured
Rangers fans have laid into Nathan Patterson after their side were left without a right-back against Royal Antwerp.
Patterson was one of five players named by Steven Gerrard as he confirmed that they had broken Covid-19 protocols.
Along with Bongani Zungu, Dapo Mebude, Calvin Bassey and Brian Kinnear the 19-year-old attended a party at the weekend, and spent Thursday night isolating in Scotland instead of sitting on the bench at the Bosuilstadion.
His foolishness was thrown into sharp focus 24 minutes into the Europa League round of 32 match, as captain James Tavernier limped off with an injury.
With Patterson unavailable, Gerrard had no natural right-backs available to him. Patterson would surely have replaced Tavernier, but the manager instead turned to Leon Balogun.
These Rangers fans were unimpressed with Patterson after the injury.
Speaking on Rangers TV, Gerrard said: “Bongani Zungu is involved, Nathan Patterson, Calvin Bassey, Dapo Mebude, who is obviously part of the academy on loan at Queen of the South, and Brian Kinnear, a young goalie who is an academy player who has spent some time around the first team as well.
“First and foremost we have to acknowledge that five of our players have been involved in a breach of Covid regulations which from the top of the club to the bottom we are all really disappointed in.
“That will be dealt with internally.
“The players will be fined and we are in dialogue with the SFA and the government to find a solution moving forward in terms of them boys.
“They have been removed from the club and the squad for now on a short-time basis while they isolate. I will sit down with them face to face when we are allowed to do so.”
Rangers ended up 4-3 victors on a thrilling night in Belgium.
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