STEVEN GERRARD offered no excuses for Rangers' performance on an emotional night at Ibrox that saw supporters pay tribute to Light Blues legend Walter Smith.

The tragic death of Smith - aged just 73 - on Tuesday has sent shockwaves through Rangers and Scottish football and tributes have flooded in for an icon of our game.

Gerrard had urged his players to overcome Aberdeen and give Smith a fitting send-off as fans remembered the man who won ten league titles over two spells at Ibrox.

Rangers had to come from two goals down to rescue a point as an Alfredo Morelos header and James Tavernier penalty denied the Dons a famous Premiership win.

And Gerrard insists the emotion of the build-up and the night - as fans unfurled banners and chanted Smith's name - didn't have a bearing on a lacklustre showing from his side.

Gerrard said: "There will be no excuses at all. I think, of course, the last 24, 48 hours have been tough for everyone connected with the club.

"And not just people at Rangers, I think the football world, the media, people who have been lucky enough to spend time with Walter.

"I think the tributes have been very fitting for him and his family, they should be very proud of what he achieved here at Rangers and at other clubs, but also the human being that he was. They should be extremely proud.

"It has been tough but that had nothing to do with how we looked and how we wanted to look so there will certainly be no excuses.

"I thought the fans were tremendous. In the 73rd minute, the noise, support and the way they tried to get behind the team.

"They were terrific. It’s been tough for them because they have lost an icon, a legend, someone they love – and that’s never easy.

"But we need to give our fans more from a home point of view. Otherwise we are going to put more pressure on ourselves for the away fixtures.

"We know what we need to fix. And we’ll do our best to fix it."