Steven Gerrard admits concerns over Easter Road pitch as he ponders Rangers team selection for Hibs test

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has admitted the poor condition of the Easter Road playing surface could influence his team selection for Wednesday night’s Premiership fixture against Hibs.
The Easter Road pitch before Hibs' last home match against Kilmarnock on January 16. (Photo by Paul Devlin / SNS Group)The Easter Road pitch before Hibs' last home match against Kilmarnock on January 16. (Photo by Paul Devlin / SNS Group)
The Easter Road pitch before Hibs' last home match against Kilmarnock on January 16. (Photo by Paul Devlin / SNS Group)

The pitch at Easter Road has deteriorated noticeably in recent weeks with Hibs manager Jack Ross conceding after his team’s scrappy 2-0 win over Kilmarnock in their last home match that it made life challenging for ball-carriers and passing sides.

That will be a major consideration for Gerrard, whose team normally adopt a possession-based style, as he prepares for what he believes will be a major challenge for his runaway league leaders against a Hibs side looking to bounce back from their Betfred Cup semi-final defeat against St Johnstone.

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“Hibs have recruited well, got a good manager but I don't think the playing surface looks too good on the eye from what I've seen in recent games that I've watched,” said Gerrard.

“It will be a challenge, it will be a test. I take everything into consideration all the time. I look at all the details (including the pitch). We always try to pick a team that is capable of winning the game, of course. But certain things you have to take into consideration around that as well.

“But we're in a good place, we're looking forward to it. We've been there and won before in the past. I thought we should have won the last game at Easter Road (a 2-2 draw) in September if we'd have taken our chances. We know what we have to do to get what we want out of the game.”

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