Rangers' Steven Gerrard rages at referee as Morelos earns late win at Livingston

Steven Gerrard faces an Old Firm sweat after being sent off for launching a furious rant at the referee John Beaton during Rangers’ 1-0 win at Livingston.

The Rangers manager marched on to the pitch at the Tony Macaroni Arena at half-time to complain after seeing Alfredo Morelos booked for diving despite having clearly been fouled in the penalty area just before the break.

Gerrard’s temper earned him two yellow cards as he raged at the official – who dished out seven yellows during a bad-tempered game. It was from his second-half perch in Livi’s main stand that he lapped up Morelos’s 87th-minute winner as the Colombian fired Rangers to within two victories of the title.

“It’s a blatant penalty, it’s a stonewaller,” an unrepentant Gerrard said afterwards. “I’m someone who wants to support officials because we are all human. But what I can’t stand for at this level is three people making the same mistake. They all had clear views of it. I could see it and I’m the furthest away.

“There are three officials at this level who all got it wrong together – I can’t have that. I asked for an explanation and he refused to speak to me. I think I’m entitled to a conversation but obviously not. It’s not right, it’s not fair. It’s a stonewaller and it’s bang out of order.”

The matter does not fall under the Scottish FA’s fast-track procedures so there is no set deadline for Hampden disciplinary chiefs to decide Gerrard’s punishment, if any. But with Rangers potentially set for a Premiership title party when they head to Celtic Park on 21 March, Gerrard could be forced to watch the celebrations from the stand if his case is decided early.

The league race could yet be settled before the derby in any case if Rangers win at home against St Mirren on Saturday and Celtic fail to do so away against Dundee United the following day.

It had been a rather uneventful contest until Beaton intervened eight minutes before the break. Morelos hit the deck as he went past Max Stryjek while chasing down Steven Davis’s sublime ball over the top. Beaton looked for a moment set to point to the spot before changing his mind and reaching for the top pocket to book Morelos.

Gerrard exploded on the touchline and replays showed Livi’s Polish keeper had made clear contact, clipping Morelos’s heel. Rangers had a decent claim for another penalty moments later as Joe Aribo sent Ryan Kent down the left.

The winger’s cross was blocked but only as far as Arfield, who squeezed wide just as Craig Sibbald dived in late. Again Beaton looked away but he could not escape Gerrard’s gaze as the irate boss strode on to the pitch to confront the official at half-time.

A yellow card was not enough to halt his outburst and he spent the second half watching from the stands. His mood was not helped either by the sight of an offside flag going up just as Connor Goldson headed home from Borna Barisic’s free-kick four minutes after the restart.

Morelos drew a smart save from Stryjek, and then took the wrong option with 15 minutes left as he fizzed across goal when he had Kent and the substitute Cedric Itten screaming for a cut-back.

However, there was no complaint from his teammates with three minutes left when he bundled home his 14th goal of the season after Stryjek spilled a Davis shot.