IT was the moment that will be remembered for all the wrong reasons as Alfredo Morelos earned an unwanted place in Old Firm folklore.

But Ibrox legend Colin Stein is confident the Colombian’s nightmare miss on Sunday won’t knock his confidence or spark a barren spell in front of goal.

After Rangers twice saw their advantage cancelled out by Celtic, Morelos spurned a glorious chance to put Graeme Murty’s side 3-2 ahead as he was denied by keeper Scott Bain. Just minutes later, it was the visitors who had the lead as Odsonne Edouard curled the ball beyond Wes Foderingham.

Read more: Alex McLeish: I considered handing crocked Rangers centre half David Bates a Scotland call-up for friendlies

In the final seconds of a pulsating derby clash, Morelos had his shot at retribution. Instead, he only compounded his earlier miss.

Bain diverted a Josh Windass strike into his path. The goal was gaping and a point was there to be grasped.

But Morelos found the post rather than the net and Rangers were left empty handed rather than snatching a share of the spoils.

The looks of disbelief, the feelings of disappointment, were shared around Ibrox. It is Morelos’ next reaction that will be telling, however, as he looks to get back on the goal trail sooner rather than later.

Stein said: “It looked easier to score, but somehow he didn’t and that is football.

“Strikers have always missed chances but the good ones keep coming back for more.

Read more: Scotland boss Alex McLeish will play ball with Celtic and Rangers over summer tour of Peru and Mexico

“Confidence is a great thing for a striker, if the ball comes across you will hit it first time and if you are not confident you are looking for one or two touches and the defender gets in.

“On that occasion, it has just come out to him and he has miscued it unfortunately.

“These things happen. He has scored a lot of good goals for Rangers but then he misses one like that.

“It is all about confidence with a striker. When you are scoring goals, it comes easy but when you miss you have to go again, it is as simple as that.

“You can’t just turn your back if you have a bad game. You have to work at it and get yourself back in there again to score the next one and he will be determined to score in the next game.”

Read more: Ryan Hardie: Loan move from Rangers to Livingston has helped bring out the best in me

Morelos may have made headlines for all the wrong reasons on Sunday but he has given the Ibrox crowd plenty to cheer in his first season in Scottish football.

His form overall has been impressive this term and his 17 goals have been crucial for the Light Blues throughout a rollercoaster campaign.

He is not the first, and he won’t be the last, to pass up a gilt-edged opportunity and Barca Bear Stein reckons his confidence won’t have taken a hit against the Hoops.

He said: “Strikers are all about scoring goals and he will be disappointed that he didn’t get a goal on Sunday.

“He will get the headlines for all the wrong reasons after that game but then he might go out and score the winner in the next game. It can be swings and roundabouts for a striker.

“It is another big game against Kilmarnock because they are playing well and obviously we have got the semi-final against Celtic coming up as well. These are big games for him to prove himself.

Read more: Alex McLeish: I considered handing crocked Rangers centre half David Bates a Scotland call-up for friendlies

“I think the manager will have a word with him and make sure he is in the right frame of mind. It is only natural that he will speak to him.”

Morelos has been the centre of attention for much of the season at Ibrox and Rangers turned down a series of multi-million pound bids from Beijing Renhe for him during the January transfer window.

The striker committed his future to the Gers last week as he put pen-to-paper on a new deal until 2021 but he couldn’t celebrate in style against Celtic.

Stein said: “It was a tremendous offer that Rangers got for him but they decided it wasn’t right to take it.

“If they had sold him and then they lost [Jason] Cummings or [Kenny] Miller, they wouldn’t have a striker.

“I don’t know if he will go in the summer, we will just have to wait and see.

“If you are a striker that is scoring goals then you will be wanted all over.

“Anyone that can get 20, 25 goals a season will be in demand and you will command big money.”

Like Morelos, Rangers must find a way of quickly putting their Old Firm heartache behind them as they attempt to regroup in the coming days.

Boss Murty could be encouraged by the way that his side competed on Sunday but Ibrox great Stein knows the final result is all that matters in the heat of derby battle.

Read more: Scotland boss Alex McLeish will play ball with Celtic and Rangers over summer tour of Peru and Mexico

He said: “It was disappointing, obviously, because Rangers had a great chance at 2-2 and they got a player sent off. But Celtic held on well.

“Rangers are certainly going in the right direction and there is not as big a game between us and Celtic as there was last year and the year before.

“If they can get one or two players and strengthen the squad again, then I am sure they won’t be far away.

“It was disappointing for the fans, there was a tremendous atmosphere again. It was a big chance for Rangers to get a result but they couldn’t take it.

“They should have had a draw at least but it wasn’t to be unfortunately.”