Alfredo Morelos seeks Rangers redemption as Celtic blanks and bookings record laid bare
Morelos #Morelos
He’s hit 85 goals in his Rangers career but there’s one monkey that looms large on the back of Alfredo Morelos.
El Bufalo has hit double figures in each of his seasons at Ibrox but he’s yet to celebrate a goal against their biggest rivals.
Manager Steven Gerrard is backing him to scratch that itch after scoring against St Johnstone at the weekend as his side look to 19 points clear at the top.
He said: “That will do Alfredo’s confidence the world of good.
“He will be delighted with the goal. He has been training well and I had a good feeling it was about to come. He’s getting into some good places.
“He was unlucky against St Johnstone last week and unlucky against Hibs on Saturday when he came on. So I had a feeling it was only a matter of time. You can’t keep him down forever.”
Morelos will be desperate to finally score against Celtic when the pair meet on Saturday, as his record below makes for grim reading.
Alfredo Morelos’ 910 minutes of blanks and bookings
Rangers 0 Celtic 2 – September 23, 2017
Morelos’ Old Firm bow saw him denied a goal after Craig Gordon blocked a header with his chest.
Minutes: 90
Disciplinary: Yellow card
Celtic 0 Rangers 0 – December 31, 2017
Craig Gordon again frustrates the Colombian with a save that bounces off his knee from point blank range.
Minutes: 89
Disciplinary: No card
Rangers 2 Celtic 3 – March 11, 2018
Morelos somehow manages to hit the post from a yard out with two minutes left when he could have rescued a point.
Minutes: 90
Disciplinary: No card
Celtic 4 Rangers 0 – April 15, 2018
A Scottish Cup demolition saw Morelos have two chances – both were saved by Craig Gordon.
Minutes: 90
Disciplinary: Yellow card
Celtic 5 Rangers 0 – Apr 29, 2018
Only named as a sub and came on for Josh Windass when Rangers were already five goals behind.
Minutes: 33 as a sub
Disciplinary: Yellow card
Celtic 1 Rangers 0 – Sep 2, 2018
Steven Gerrard’s Old Firm bow and Morelos had one chance…which was saved yet again by Gordon.
Minutes: 90
Disciplinary: Yellow card
Rangers 1 Celtic 0 – December 29, 2018
Morelos finally celebrates a win over Celtic, but has a quiet day despite Rangers dominating.
Minutes 90
Disciplinary: No card
Celtic 2 Rangers 1 – March 31, 2019
A fifth red card of the season and the first against Celtic as Morelos is dismissed for an elbow on Scott Brown.
Minutes: 31
Disciplinary Red card
Rangers 2 Celtic 0 – May 12, 2019
Jermain Defoe is preferred to Morelos and he has little time to make an impact in another win.
Minutes 11 as a sub
Disciplinary: No card
Rangers 0 Celtic 2 – Sep 1, 2019
Again, Morelos was only handed a sub place and replaced by Defoe as Rangers fell to a tame defeat.
Minutes: 30 as a sub
Disciplinary: No card
Celtic 1 Rangers 0 – Dec 8, 2019
Fraser Forster not only saves Morelos’ penalty, but denies him on three other occasions as Celtic win the League Cup.
Minutes: 90
Disciplinary: No card
Celtic 1 Rangers 2 – Dec 29, 2019
Morelos misses a sitter and is shown a second yellow card for diving in injury time before making a cut-throat gesture.
Minutes: 90
Disciplinary: Booked twice – red card
Celtic 0 Rangers 2 – Oct 17, 2020
Plays his part as Rangers dominate, but is hooked late on just a minute after collecting another booking.
Minutes: 86
Disciplinary: Yellow card