STEVEN Gerrard has told his Rangers players that they will have to stand up and take responsibility after they were held to a draw at home by Kilmarnock last night.

The Ibrox boss had tried to shield his players from blame after being dumped out of the Betfred Cup semi-final by Aberdeen on Sunday, but after this latest disappointment, he has admitted that he can’t protect them forever.

“It was not the result or the reaction I wanted after the weekend,” Gerrard said.

“It was a six or seven out of ten and it wasn’t enough to beat a well-drilled Kilmarnock team.

“ We knew the onus would be on us to provide the quality. We got the first goal which should have given us a big lift but it never.

“We continued to play slowly. It was a frustrating result and a frustrating performance.

“I can sit here and protect them all night and take the blame. If that’s what they want then I will. But, they are Rangers players. They are the ones who have to go out and deliver and tonight they haven’t

“We will all take the blame together but they have to take responsibility at some point.

“It is a concern that it has happened a few times now.

‘I know the players can play better than this. The performance wasn’t good enough. Two or three really put it in and maxed out for us but the rest weren’t at it.

‘I thought it was a pretty similar performance to Sunday. Not good enough.

‘I expected a better reaction. I think the fans deserved a better reaction and better performance and they never delivered it.”

Gerrard thanked stand-in keeper Wes Foderingham for ensuring that the night wasn’t even worse for his side.

“Wes stopped us from actually dropping three points with a terrific save at the end,” he said. “He has been outstanding in training the last two or three weeks.

“Allan has had a small problem on the right side of his back, probably not enough to keep him out but a flag, if you like, to me about his age and the amount of games we are going to play over the course of the season.

“I thought our reaction from Sunday would allow me to change the keeper. But there are no fingers to be pointed at Wes.”