STEVEN GERRARD insists Rangers are moving in the right direction this season – despite suffering defeat in his first Old Firm encounter at Parkhead.

Olivier Ntcham’s second half strike proved the difference on Sunday as Brendan Rodgers’ side moved four points clear of the Light Blues in the Premiership standings.

The derby loss was the first that Gerrard has suffered since he took over as Gers boss in the summer and came just days after he guided his side into the group stages of the Europa League.

And the 38-year-old is pleased with the overall progress that has been made in such a short space of time as he has overhauled the Ibrox squad this summer.

Gerrard said: “It’s difficult to take positives from this game because we’ve just lost but we are together 12, 14 weeks, we have met a lot of hurdles and challenges the players have given me absolutely everything so I can’t be too critical of them.

“We played against a team today that has been together for two years but even prior to that they have a lot more experience than this new group we are working with.

“They know how to win, we know they are a good team, we know they will have periods of possession, but I saw enough today to feel that if we can get bodies back and get new signings up to speed I believe we can be a match for Celtic, certainly in the next fixture.

“I think Rangers have been blown away in previous derby games, we have been annihilated with scorelines which are not acceptable.

“I’m not saying 1-0 is acceptable but I’ve seen enough today that we are working in the right direction and I’ve seen enough that with some more improvement and training time on the field, drilling them and improving them, I believe we are moving in the right direction.”

Rangers warmed up for the trip to Parkhead by battling to a draw in Russia on Thursday night as they overcame Ufa to clinch a remarkable play-off round victory.

It was far from ideal preparation for the biggest game of Gerrard’s managerial career but the Liverpool legend offered no excuses after a disappointing derby performance from his side.

Gerrard said: “It’s difficult to say. I could sit here and make excuses but at the end of the day I’m not one to use excuses.

“They played Thursday night as well, of course we were miles and miles away but we actually finished the game really strong and in a decent place, with energy and making passes and getting round the sides.

“It would be cheap for me to say it was because of Thursday night but of course going into these games you would prefer the full week to drill and work on it and 48 hours was not enough, one session was not enough.”

Rangers will head into the international break seventh in the top flight after the first four league encounters this term.

The Gers have beaten St Mirren and drawn with Aberdeen and Motherwell so far in the Premiership, while Kilmarnock were also seen off to progress to the Betfred Cup quarter-finals.

Gerrard said: “I think, in the main, it’s disappointing if you just think five out of 12 – for a club like Rangers, that’s disappointing.

“But, if you look at the fixtures and what we had to face as a brand new staff, a brand new group of players…

“We had Aberdeen away, Motherwell away, Celtic away in your first four. Away to Kilmarnock sandwiched in the middle of that.

“And then eight Europa League games, with all the travel in that short space of time. I’m well pleased with where we are.

“I believe the next time this derby comes around we will be better, we will be more used to each other – and hopefully we’re in a good place to make up the points we’ve lost.”