Steven Gerrard calls for understanding of Rangers' fan celebrations outside Ibrox as his team move to within a point of the Premiership title

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard expressed empathy with supporters who defied current government coronavirus guidance to gather outside Ibrox and celebrate their club all but clinching the Premiership title.
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard looks out of the dressing room window to greet supporters celebrating after the 3-0 win over St Mirren which effectively secured the Premiership title. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)Rangers manager Steven Gerrard looks out of the dressing room window to greet supporters celebrating after the 3-0 win over St Mirren which effectively secured the Premiership title. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard looks out of the dressing room window to greet supporters celebrating after the 3-0 win over St Mirren which effectively secured the Premiership title. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)

Before and after the 3-0 win over St Mirren, large groups of fans congregated and set off flares as Rangers moved to within a point of becoming Scottish champions for the first time in a decade.

Gerrard, who acknowledged the supporters on his arrival at the stadium and again afterwards when he greeted them from an open dressing room window, called for understanding of the jubilant scenes.

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“I’ve got to get my words right here - we are still experiencing and are involved in a pandemic,” said Gerrard. “It’s important fans try to stay humble and safe.

“That’s the priority - fans’ safety and people’s safety. I totally understand that.

“But at the same time, if you’ve got anything inside you or any part of your heart can understand what the fans have been through, you can totally understand what’s gone on outside this stadium.

“It’s my job to try and control that. Safety is paramount at the moment but it’s tough because it has been an emotional three years for me. The fans have been here for much longer than that and have been through a lot in 10 years. So you can certainly understand it.

“When I turned up at the stadium today, it was emotional. You could see on the fans’ faces what the day meant.

“It was important the players connected with that but at the same time remembered what we had to do in terms of the game.

“On a really big, monumental day for the club this is probably the most important three points we have delivered.

“It puts us millimetres away from being champions. We will try and stay humble. It’s tough, because we are so close.

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“During a pandemic, you think maybe it wouldn’t be like it was today. But what you saw today is 10 years of what these supporters have been through. I’m delighted for them and really proud of the players’ efforts because they have been outstanding.

“From a league point of view, they have been close to perfect.”

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