STEVEN Gerrard believes Scottish football fans are not getting the message after the latest regrettable incident when a lighter was thrown from the home section at Fir Park towards Rangers captain James Tavernier on Sunday.
Rangers manager Gerrard is fed up of the off-field nonsense and says it has to end now. Gerrard said: "It seems like we're trying to send messages out every time we speak to the media, which is a shame. It's dangerous for the players when there are objects thrown on to the pitch, whether it be a lighter or whatever it may be. It needs to stop.”
It was a good day on the pitch for Rangers, with Scott Arfield scoring the first hat-trick of his professional career in the 3-0 win over Motherwell. Arfield's treble strike was set up by Jermain Defoe - who unselfishly passed up the opportunity to net goal No.298 of his distinguished career.
Have a look at five things we learned from the game here - where Chris Jack says that Rangers have used the last seven days wisely as the disappointment and frustration of their loss at Parkhead has been put to one side with successive wins.
Celtic may be champions-elect but Livingston earned an excellent point at Parkhead on Saturday with an intelligent defensive display. Livingston defender Declan Gallagher, a former Celtic youth player who grew up as a fan of the Hoops, said the 0-0 draw was his "sweetest" ever Parkhead moment. Gallagher said: "Personally, it means everything to me. Growing up a Celtic fan, playing in front of 60,000 fans, it is everything you dream of, even though I was playing for Livingston."
Stewart Fisher says Celtic haven't fully hit stride yet under interim boss Neil Lennon - have a look at five things we learned from the game here.
Celtic now move on to play Aberdeen in the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final on Sunday. Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer was a hero in the recent win over Rangers at Celtic Park and the Norwegian Viking warrior says he is perfectly prepared to put his body on the line again against the Dons. Ajer said: "You always have to go in 100 per cent or you shouldn’t be playing. That will never be a concern for me."
One of the off-field incidents that has blighted Scottish football recently was the flare that was thrown onto the pitch from where Celtic supporters were gathered during last midweek's win for Lennon's men at St Mirren. The firecracker left Saints goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky requiring medical attention. Celtic ultras group The Green Brigade issued a statement in the aftermath of the match defending the "safe, sensible use of pyrotechnics".
But chief football writer Matthew Lindsay takes issue with this, saying: "What deluded drivel. Flares and smoke bombs are dangerous in the extreme and have no place in a stadium. In any circumstances. Their use can result in disfigurement, serious injury and even death."
Elsewhere, Kilmarnock player Rory McKenzie says he has been so impressed with the coaching methods of manager Steve Clarke that he is contemplating doing his coaching badges, whereas prior to him taking over he had no interest at all.
In rugby, Hamish Watson says what he really wants at Edinburgh is to be in the European elite. Edinburgh recently exited the Champions Cup with a defeat to Munster and Watson said: “After such a great performance in the Champions Cup this year and the way the league went last year, if we were to go back into the Challenge Cup, it would be really disappointing. Every player wants to be in that main European tournament."
In ice hockey, Glasgow Clan's dreams of play-off progression ended with defeat to Guildford Flames. Craig Anderson writes: "Clan were looking to reach the Nottingham finals next week for the first time since 2014, but on a night that promised so much, the end of the road came in such disappointing fashion to end Pete Russell’s first year in charge on a low note."
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