Scottish Premiership

RANGERS will have to wait a little bit longer to confirm their Europa League last-32 qualification for a second successive season.
Steven Gerrard’s side looked well on course to seal a vital win at Ibrox having gone up two goals to the good.

Pizzi scored a late equaliser to make Rangers wait for a last-32 spotCredit: Willie Vass – The Sun

Scott Arfield fired Rangers in front earlier in the gameCredit: PA:Press Association

Third time lucky for Rangers!Scott Arfield strikes it home after Benfica made a huge stop and James Tavernier’s rebound header rattled the crossbar 😅 pic.twitter.com/4XjCc1utDF
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) November 26, 2020

However, two late sucker punches from Benfica mean both sides sit on eight points in Group D, with Lech Poznan in third on four.
Scott Arfield opened the scoring after just seven minutes to set Gerrard’s side on their way.
A tremendous Borna Barisic cross from the left was met by Kemar Roofe, whose header was saved before James Tavernier’s subsequent effort hit the bar and landed at the feet of Arfield.
The Canadian set himself and thumped the ball with his right foot into the net to make it advantage Gers.

While the Portuguese giants dominated possession, it was the Scottish Premiership leaders who looked the more threatening.
They managed three shots on target, with Ryan Kent looking dangerous.
But Benfica did create two very good chances… first, Everton played a give-and-go with Alex Grimaldo when entering the Rangers box.
He worked the ball onto his right foot but blazed over as Allan McGregor and Co breathed a sigh of relief.

Tavernier hit the bar with a header earlier in the gameCredit: Willie Vass – The Sun

Then Rafa Silva looked certain to bag after taking a sensational touch round Leon Balogun, but the Nigerian recovered fantastically well to deflect his shot for a corner.
Into the second half and Benfica continued their pressure, but never properly tested McGregor despite having all the ball.
Everton and Haris Seferovic has pops at goal, but neither player shot with any real conviction.
Just after the hour mark, the home side should’ve had a penalty after Kemar Roofe nicked the ball back from Grimaldo on the half way line and drove with pace towards the Benfica box.
The attacker attempted an early drilled cross to Kent, but his pass was blocked by ex-Spurs star Jan Vertonghen with what appeared to be his hand raised inside the box.
This would turn out to be a vital moment in the match.
Although, five minutes later on 69 minutes the Englishman produced a stunning finish to make it 2-0 to Rangers.
Kent slipped the ball into the on-form striker, who took a touch to get the ball out of his feet and hit a rasping shot into the roof of the net giving Helton Leite no chance in the Benfica goal.

Kemar Roofe’s thunderous strikeCredit: PA:Press Association
The Portuguese giants did get themselves a goal though on 78 minutes, after the ball deflected in off Tavernier after McGregor produced a fine close-range save from Seferovic.
It made for a nervy ending to the game – which eventually cost Rangers.
Before Benfica equalised, Alfredo Morelos nearly made it 3-1 to Gerrard’s men after his shot cracked the bar after a save from Leite from his firce shot.
But more or less straight after this move, Benfica, through Pizzi levelled proceedings.
The Argentine was slipped in as he stood centrally in the box.
His brilliant quick feet evaded Balogun as he sent his shot way behind McGregor to make the score 2-2.
Rangers will be disappointed to have to settle for a point, but Benfica once again proved they’re a qualify outfit.

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BILLY GILMOUR reminded everyone what he is capable of as he continues his return to action following an injury.
The former Rangers starlet turned out for the Chelsea development squad as they faced Manchester City.

Gilmour started the Chelsea development’s comebackCredit: Getty Images – Getty

With the Stamford Bridge outfit trailing the game 2-0 at half-time, Gilmour received a pass from George Nunn on the edge of the area before curling a sublime shot by the City keeper.
The youngsters completed the comeback to earn a 2-2 draw.
Given Chelsea’s current form, Gilmour has a job on his hands if he wants to break into the first-team again.
The youngster is one of a handful of young stars who also have realistic ambitions to make it into Steve Clarke’s Scotland plans for next summer’s Euro championships.

And Blues boss Lampard admitted earlier in the week that he was excited to have the young Scot back fit again.
He said: “He is fit again.
“He played on Wednesday night in the EFL Trophy, got good minutes and I’ve heard he played well so we are happy with him and he’ll play again at the weekend in the Under-23s.
“I’m really excited to have him back fit.”

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Meanwhile, Rangers boss Steven Gerrard admitted his confusion as Alfredo Morelos stormed off in a HUFF after being subbed earlier today.
Morelos was replaced by Defoe this afternoon after travelling away on international duty with Colombia and with the visit of Benfica on Thursday night in mind.
Morelos took his gloves off as he left the field and trudged off to the bench to take his seat.

Gerrard said: “Alfredo wasn’t happy to go off? Is he ever! I can’t work it out.  We’re 4-0 up, we’ve played well.
“His teammate is about to come on. We’ve got a big game on Thursday. I don’t know.
“You’ll have to ask Alfredo why he was a bit sad. I was really happy.” More

THE gloves are off in the title battle.
But Steven Gerrard can’t understand why Alfredo Morelos’ mittens were thrown off when he was subbed.

Morelos was substituted midway through the second halfCredit: Willie Vass – The Sun

The Ibrox side were 4-0 up and cruising when the Rangers boss decided to give his striker a break on 65 minutes.
Morelos had returned from international duty with Colombia just a few days earlier.
He’d played the final 30 minutes of a 3-0 defeat at home to Uruguay then sat on the bench in Ecuador as the hosts won 6-1.But back at Rangers things were still on the up.
Morelos hasn’t scored in the league since September 20 but this victory was sending Gers 11 points clear at the top with a goal difference 17 better than Celtic.

So Gerrard didn’t expect the hissy-fit when he was replaced by Jermain Defoe just after the hour mark.
Gerrard said: “Alfredo wasn’t happy to go off? Is he ever! I can’t work it out.  We’re 4-0 up, we’ve played well.
“His teammate is about to come on. We’ve got a big game on Thursday. I don’t know.

Morelos battles with Tommy HobanCredit: Reuters
“You’ll have to ask Alfredo why he was a bit sad. I was really happy.”

While Morelos didn’t get a goal, his movement helped drag Dons players out of position to create the space which Gers’ midfielders running behind him could exploit.
He also linked well with Roofe, who started out on the right with Kent cutting inside off the other flank.
Kent got the ball rolling on 15 minutes when his shot from 30 yards deflected off Tommie Hoban’s head and past Joe Lewis in the Dons’ goal.
Roofe then made is 2-0 when he was allowed to slalom into the box and finish.
Arfield’s shot on 49 minutes then ricocheted off Shay Logan and in for Gers’ third.

Rangers star Alfredo MorelosCredit: Reuters
Then after Andy Considine pulled down Leon Balogun, Tavernier kept his cool from the spot yet again to net his ninth penalty and 13th goal of the season.
Gerrard said: “All the players are important but I was really interested to see the relationship between Alfredo and Kemar.
“I wanted to see how they played together. We saw it a few weeks ago with Jermain Defoe and Kemar, their understanding and relationship.
“It’s important that Alfredo gets that relationship with Kemar as well.
“It’s very difficult to play against because they can come short or go in behind, or come off the side as well. We have No8s who can go beyond them.
“We want to give opposition teams as many problems as we can. At times in the past we have come unstuck by maybe playing in front of teams too much, being a little bit predictable and maybe not having enough answers.
“I’m really pleased with how we are looking now.”

Gers boss GerrarrdCredit: Willie Vass – The Sun
Aberdeen had been rocked by the loss of Connor McLennan and Lewis Ferguson just 24 hours before the clash after they were forced into isolation following the Scotland Under-21s covid outbreak.
Ross McCrorie was one of three players to test positive after getting back from that trip to Greece but was always going to miss yesterday’s clash due to his loan arrangement from Ibrox to Pittodrie.
The Dons had only lost once since their opening day defeat at home to Gers while their last pointless trip on the road in the league was way back in December.
But they were blown away by Gers and Gerrard said: “Aberdeen have been on a fantastic run. They have been excellent defensively and very hard to score against.
“So I’ve got to pay my boys credit. I know Aberdeen had some issues before the game but the focus is always on us. We had to go and do the job.
“We were playing against good defenders and a really organised team. Derek doesn’t get the credit he deserves at times for how well he sets his team up.

Scott Arfield made it 3-0Credit: Willie Vass – The Sun
“Having said that, I’ve got to pay my players a lot of credit because they found the answers and they could have found even more.”
Dons boss Derek McInnes couldn’t argue with the scoreline – but did think Gers got lucky with their penalty.
He said: “We came into the game with a lot of key players missing and Scott Wright was added to with a groin problem.  
“We also had the three players out with the 21s. We were a team that lacked pace and that’s something we’ve had a lot of this season.  
“We went with a team we had to pick rather than one we wanted to pick. These things are sent to test us and we tried to get a shape that gave us to come here not only defend but also to have an outlet at the other end.  

“I thought we started well against a Rangers team who are in a good place. The first goal took a big defection and the second goal we could do better with.  
“At half-time we talked about the next goal and six minutes later we lost another deflection then a soft penalty. If that was a penalty there will be a lot more penalties for that.
“I felt he went over early and it was pretty soft. We didn’t feel like we had the breaks but my players worked hard despite the obvious difficulties.
“There was plenty of effort from a lot of players who haven’t played a lot of games. I have no complaints, we were well beaten but at least we have another game on Wednesday.  
“The last time Rangers beat us we had to wait 19 games for the next one. We had 26 from 36 points coming into this and it’s important we take the next three points.” More

RANGERS have thrashed Aberdeen to extend their lead at the top of the Premiership table.
Goals from Ryan Kent, Kemar Roofe, Scott Arfield and James Tavernier sealed the Light Blues’ victory at Ibrox.

James Tavernier celebrates after scoring for RangersCredit: Willie Vass – The Sun

Rangers star Ryan Kent celebratesCredit: PA:Press Association

Gers even thought they another goal to add to their tally at one point but it was ruled out for offside.
The Dons travelled to Glasgow today without the services of Lewis Ferguson and Connor McLennan as the pair remained in self-isolation.
Ross McCrorie, who is also self-isolating after testing positive for Covid-19, would have missed this game regardless as he can’t face his parent club.
Rangers quickly established their dominance over Aberdeen and they only had to wait quarter of an hour for the opening goal.

Kemar Roofe celebrates after scoring for RangersCredit: PA:Press Association

Rangers star Scott Arfield celebrates his goal with Borna BarisicCredit: PA:Press Association
Kent made a brilliant run towards the box and scored with a brilliant strike, although replays showed it took a deflection on the way in.
And the Light Blues thought they had another shortly afterwards when Arfield found the net, only for his effort to be ruled offside.
However, Roofe made a run along the front of the box before firing it past Joe Lewis to double the home side’s lead just before the half-hour mark.
Arfield did get on the scoresheet less than five minutes into the second half when he managed to dink the ball past Lewis.

Replays showed that there was another deflection on the way in just to add to Aberdeen’s misery.
And the visitors’ day just got worse a few minutes later when Andy Considine conceded a penalty, picking up a booking in the process.

Aberdeen star Andy Considine fouls Rangers ace Leon BalogunCredit: PA:Press Association

Tavernier, who has been brilliant from the spot this season, converted once again to add to his own tally for the campaign and wrap up the win.
Towards the end of the game, Lewis was forced to tip the ball on to the bar in order to prevent an own goal.
Rangers have yet to drop points at Ibrox in the league this season and have yet to concede a goal in that time.
This victory also moves them 11 points clear of Old Firm rivals Celtic in the table, who even with their two games in hand, still have ground to make up.

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CELTIC ace Leigh Griffiths has apologised after liking a tweet showing Kyle Lafferty in tears on Thursday night.
The former Rangers ace broke down following Northern Ireland’s Euro 2020 play-off defeat to Slovakia.

Leigh Griffiths has apologised for liking a tweet showing Lafferty in tearsCredit: SNS Group

Lafferty paid tribute to his sister who passed away last weekCredit: PA:Press Association

Lafferty featured in the match just a week after losing his sister Sonia – and paid tribute to her before the game with a T-shirt.
And he broke down in tears after the match with Griffiths liking an image on Twitter.
The Scotland ace – who netted in the penalty shoot-out – has since deleted his account but took to Instagram to apologise.
He said: “Not that I should have to, but after what I’m seeing on social media I feel I need to.

“After last night’s win, I want to state that I was not slagging Kyle Lafferty for losing a family member, that is the lowest of the low and not the type of person I am.
“The picture was in a Northern Ireland strip and the fact they didn’t qualify and we did, which has been a huge achievement for the entire nation.
“Everyone gets carried away and people think I liked it because his sister died, absolutely not.
“We won, they didn’t, we’ve been mocked for years about failure, but we did it.

Lafferty broke down after Northern Ireland’s extra-time loss vs SlovakiaCredit: PA:Press Association

“I want to APOLOGISE unreservedly for any MISUNDERSTANDING there has been towards Kyle and his family.
“I don’t deserve what I’ve been sent. but I’ve had enough and something needed to be said on the matter.”
Celtic boss Neil Lennon has previously had a go at Griffiths over his social media activity.
He said: “He needs to stop all the social media nonsense with all these slogans he puts out there. It’s not the real world we all live in.
“The boys here are all top professionals and I have a great staff who are all professional as well.
“They deserve better and he should know better.
“He needs to get his head down and get fit because that’s what we pay him for.
“We’ve done everything we possibly could for him.”

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