Alfredo Morelos moves closer to Ally McCoist's record as Rangers rack up five in first gear

Steven Gerrard insists Alfredo Morelos has a long way to go before he can be counted in the same class as Rangers great Ally McCoist.

The Colombian is closing in on Gers’ European scoring record after notching his 19th and 20th strikes in continental competition.

The 24-year-old netted twice in a 5-0 drubbing of Lincoln Red Imps in Gibraltar, leaving him just one behind Ibrox icon McCoist, adding to last term’s incredible scoring streak, when he became the first player to hit 14 goals before Christmas in a Uefa tournament.

But Gerrard is not ready to gush with praise just yet, pointing out that the big difference between the pair can be counted in honours, with McCoist – the club’s all-time record goal poacher – outscoring Morelos by 20 winners’ medals to nil. “Alfredo is a top striker and an incredible finisher,” Gerrard told RangersTV. “You see that especially with the second goal, but the first is just as good for me as he attacks the goal frame.

“I’m sure Ally McCoist, watching that, will be very happy. But there’s a big difference between Alfredo Morelos and Ally McCoist and it’s that Ally won trophies here.

“He was successful here so we can’t talk about those two players in the same breath – not yet.”

Rangers victory sets up a trip to Holland next week, where they will face Willem II.

James Tavernier swept them ahead with a sublime free-kick before Connor Goldson nodded a second just before the break and after Kemar Roofe had limped off with a calf strain. Tavernier did not reappear for the second half, but the changes did not slow the Glasgow side down, with Morelos netting either side of Jermain Defoe’s strike.

“It was professional, job done and that was the plan coming here,” said Gerrard. “We wanted to get a win, a clean sheet and move on to the next fixture.

“Tonight was about getting through. We scored five good goals, kept a clean sheet even though we really didn’t get out of first gear.

“I don’t think it was a good performance. We made it complicated for the majority of it.

“I thought the goals were outstanding and it was nice to have the luxury to give people the opportunities to play.

“We’ll take the positives and move on but as for the all-round performance, we didn’t get out of first gear.”

Match details

Lincoln Red Imps Goldwin, Wiseman (Gamiz 56), Yahaya, Lopes, Britto, Roy Chipolina, Hernandez (De Barr 52), Gomez, Torrilla, Sergeant (Toscano 68), Lee Casciaro.
Subs Lolo Soler, Same, Kyle Casciaro, Jamie Coombes. Booked Goldwin, Chipolina.

Rangers McGregor, Tavernier (Morelos 45), Stewart, Kamara, Edmundson, Arfield, Goldson, Roofe (Patterson 42), Hagi, Barisic, Itten (Defoe 66).
Subs McLaughlin, Helander, Davis, Kent. Booked Hagi.

Referee Iwan Griffith (Wales)