Ex-Rangers right-back Alan Hutton says he was shocked by the state of the Ibrox pitch when watching his former club win 2-1 over Hibernian midweek.

Poor weather conditions combined with five games over 16 days have damaged the playing surface, leading to manager Steven Gerrard to criticise the situation after Wednesday night’s match.

Hutton was in full agreement with the Light Blues boss, and he even suggests that the problem could lose them the advantage of playing at home:

“To be honest, it was (awful). When I was watching it I was thinking: ‘This pitch looks shocking.’ To be fair it was, I know it’s difficult up there with the weather and things, obviously Gerrard is used to playing on lawn greens week in, week out no matter the time of the year.”

“He wants his team to play football, that’s the thing. It’s difficult to play on pitches that are all cut up, especially when he wants fast, flowing football, everybody on the front foot. It actually gives other teams a chance, it doesn’t let Rangers play football the way they want to.”

“I think that’s where he’s annoyed with, playing at home should be the advantage. It’s difficult for the groundsmen, especially with the weather but I can understand his frustration.”

The pitch issue is certainly not going to help matters as the Gers look to clawback Celtic’s lead at the top of the table. They are currently seven points behind their Old Firm rivals, with a game in hand.

Gerrard’s side are away against Hamilton in the Scottish Cup tomorrow, and they play Kilmarnock on the road in the league next Wednesday so the Ibrox pitch will have some respite, but it is only eight days until their next home game.