STEVEN GERRARD knows as well as anyone that big games provide big talking points. So the Rangers boss hasn’t been taken aback by the fall-out from the Old Firm victory last month.

The Light Blues were 2-1 winners as goals from Ryan Kent and Nikola Katic cut the gap to Celtic to just two points.

Gerrard is now in Dubai as he steps up his preparations for the second half of the campaign and sets his sights on the Premiership title.

But several moments from the Parkhead clash continue to dominate the agenda and criticism has been aimed at Rangers from various quarters.

Gerrard said: “There’s always a fall-out from these games, that’s my experience anyway.

“Whether it’s to do with what Rangers players have done or what Celtic players have done, there’s always a fall-out.

“So in that regard it hasn’t surprised me or shocked me at all. I predict there will be another fall-out after the next Old Firm game too.

“There are no other games for you guys to focus on, it’s the last one before the break.

“Pundits talk about it more from a negative and from a positive point of view. If you are on the wrong side of one it certainly hurts for that bit longer.

“You are definitely a bit more wounded, but of course, you are happy if you are on the right side of the scoreline. We want to move on, the game has gone. In no way shape or form will be over-brag or be over-confident.

“We will not become complacent because we really respect the challenge and where we are at this stage in the season. I said before the game at Celtic Park, win, lose or draw, we would move on quickly. But yeah, we are in a good place at the moment.”

For Gerrard and the Rangers fans, the only thing that really mattered on derby day was the victory that fired the Light Blues into title contention.

Rangers still have a game in hand over their Old Firm rivals after an encouraging start to the season that has also seen them qualify for the knockout rounds of the Europa League.

And Gerrard will continue to strive for improvement this term.

He said: “I think the game management was fantastic, especially in that atmosphere because it’s a tough place to go and play.

“We were playing against a team that’s obviously dominated across the board for many years. They have winners throughout their team so we were aware of that. We knew we had to go there and deliver that kind of performance.

“I was delighted with the players, it’s up there with our top performances since I came to the club.

“I think experience over the last 18 months help. We recruited a certain type of player with a certain type of character.

“There is much more resilience to us now.

“We have the right mentality now in terms of wanting to win and not being affected by set-backs during a game.

“That’s something we have tried to build since I came to the club. It’s not something we will always get right, you just need to look at our match against Young Boys away.

“We were in a really healthy position, but then we made a couple of errors.

“I’m not going to sit here and say our game management is fixed. There is a long way to go.

“But if you have good types, good people who are prepared to work, graft, suffer and understand what it means to play for the badge then more often than not you’ll put yourself in a good position.”