ALFREDO MORELOS made a return to old habits yesterday afternoon at Fir Park. The Colombian’s red-card was correct by the letter of the law and, indeed, the striker could consider himself fortunate that one or two other challenges had been allowed to go unchecked before the second yellow came out.

His gesture to that particular pocket of the Motherwell support was stupid. With a stand beside it full of Rangers supporters, Morelos would have been best advised to do his jig of delight in front of those of a similar kinship. It would have saved a lot of bother.

Steven Gerrard was fairly honest in his post-match assessment that he could have “no complaints” about the red-card, despite some of the reservations from his own support.

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READ MORE: Alfredo Morelos targeted by objects thrown by Motherwell fans as he celebrated Rangers goal

The striker’s absence did not hurt Rangers as they played out the last 20 minutes of the game without his services. By that time the game was more or less won against a fairly insipid Motherwell side.

But what of this Friday night? Rangers head through to Leith this weekend to play Hibs at Easter Road in a game that Jack Ross will be keen to make an impression. Rangers without Morelos and the 27 goals that he has netted so far this season is a fairly significant handicap. One rash moment of stupidity could well come back to haunt both him and his club if Rangers stumble on their travels without him – and for what?

A crass get-it-up-you that doubtless felt smashing at the time but for which the ramifications could well linger.

So, now that we have established the empty-headed celebration and the punishment that comes with it, what of the Motherwell support? Morelos should have been nowhere near them but time and time again there is behaviour on view in a football ground that would not be tolerated on the street.

Who were the culprits who very clearly aimed objects at the player? They are equally in the wrong here – and also ought to face sanction for their actions. Motherwell, it has to be said, have shown considerable alacrity in previous incidents to come down on their own support, and it cannot be too difficult to identify those who were guilty of tossing a cup of Bovril and who knows what else onto the pitch.

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READ MORE: Ex-Rangers star Kris Boyd says Alfredo Morelos deserved red card for goading Motherwell fans

That particular corner of Fir Park with its little band of self-proclaimed ‘ultras’ has been notable for poor behaviour. At a high profile ground such as Celtic Park or Ibrox, much of their antics would have been highlighted far more more frequently than what they have.

The idea that walking inside a football ground somehow offers insulation against the normal rules of society that apply outside always seems a little odd to observe. So far this term there hasn’t been quite the same level of antagonism that characterised much of last season with a slew of anti-social incidents that at one stage seemed to becoming regular talking points and back-page headlines.

No-one expects fans to sit quietly and applaud politely at everything that goes on as though they were watching croquet on the lawn. And we would all be hypocrites if we didn’t accept that an element of rancour and rivalry enhances and creates an atmosphere inside a ground; its seen in the aftermath of any controversial decision. But throwing objects such as coins and lighters takes it to a moronic level.

A few weeks back at a fairly dismal Hamilton game there was a 90-minute venting of fury from first minute to last from a middle-aged woman, complete with sensible shoes and Marks and Sparks waterproof that would have shamed a navvy.

When one member of the visiting team went down, quite obviously injured, there were all sorts of obscenities and accusations lobbed in his direction. Watching someone hurt in a game and still seeing the need to shout abuse is a weird state of affairs but is in keeping with a generally skewered set of principles that only apply when you take a seat in a football stadium.

That footballers are penalised for stepping out of line – and Morelos did step out of line according to the black-and-white rules of the game – is correct. But there is a standard of behaviour that supporters also need to be held to account for.

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READ MORE: Europa League draw: Rangers' potential opponents and possible route into last 16

AND ANOTHER THING. . .

Scott Sinclair’s suggestion this weekend that he could be forced to look elsewhere for regular football cannot come as a huge surprise to anyone.

The winger has struggled this season to make any in-roads into Neil Lennon’s first-team which seems odd given the frequency with which he has been at the top end of the goalscoring charts for the club throughout his time at Celtic.

The goals, his ability to change a game and the fact he remains one of the highest earners at the club all makes it odd that he has not played more often than he has this season.

There has been occasional social media postings showcasing extra work at the gym on lone training ground when the team have been off from Sinclair that have hinted at a sense of grievance but he resisted the temptation to air any frustrations publicly.

Following some rare game time in Romania last week, the winger was candid in accepting that his time at the club looks set to come to its conclusion in January.

For a player who was one of the main men at the club through the treble treble seasons – even last year when there were accusations about not playing particularly well he still chipped in with 17 goals – it seems a meek way for his time at the club to conclude