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Motherwell chairman John Boyle says any move by Celtic and Rangers to join an English league would be a threat to the fabric of Scottish football. More...

CELTIC chiefs were seething last night after the SPL handed Rangers a third home showdown with third-place Hearts following the split. Record Sport understands the champions feel their arch rivals have been given a huge advantage in the battle for the title when it emerged they will host the Jambos at Ibrox next weekend. Rangers have been to Tynecastle just once this season, losing 2-1 in November, while the Hoops feel aggrieved they have already had to make two trips to Edinburgh. Gordon Strachan's men must negotiate tricky post-split away fixtures to Aberdeen, Easter Road and Ibrox while Rangers head on the road to Hibs and Dundee United on the final day of the season. A Celtic insider said: "All we are asking for is an even playing field." Fans chief Peter Rafferty was also shocked having heard the fixtures and has called for the SPL to review the way in which it decides the post-split games." The secretary of the Association of Celtic Supporters Clubs said: "That is pretty unusual it's got to be said, though I know it happened a few seasons ago when we faced Dundee three times at Celtic Park. "But I thought it would have been at Tynecastle. The whole thing needs reviewing because there is a problem with these fixtures. "We are just looking for a fair crack of the whip and a level playing field and that has not happened." Twelve months ago Rangers were up in arms when the club were forced to cram in their final four matches in the space of eight days. The SPL ignored pleas from the Ibrox outfit for a longer SPL extension due to their involvement in the UEFA and Scottish Cup Finals. However, this time around the Rangers Supporters Trust believe both sides of the Old Firm have been treated fairly following the publication of the post-split fixtures. Trust spokesman David Edgar said: "It looks a pretty even fixture list against the best teams in the diivision." "Rangers' final game of the season at Tannadice and I don't know how anybody can say that is beneficial. "Both teams have five games to play including the final Old Firm match at Ibrox and the best team will win the title." Edgar believes the only way to avoid the ritual end of season squabling is to scrap the controversial top six setup. He added: "There are going to be fixture anomalies." http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2009/04/20/celtic-fury-as-split-fixtures-hand-advantage-to-rangers-86908-21291161/

Chairman will discuss a plan put forward by Bolton's Phil Gartside to have a two division Premier League including Celtic and Rangers. More...

By Amir Rashid Rangers 0, Celtic 0 BRAVE Rangers are still clinging to their title but a stalemate with their great rivals might just have ended their chances of holding on to the crown they have won in each of the last two seasons. Kyle Hutton is red cardedBoth sides finished with 10 men but it is the result that is more damaging from a Rangers point of view as Hibs can now win the title if the beat Motherwell in their final fixture on April 24. The Light Blues lost Kyle Hutton to two yellow cards, playing most of the second half a man down, but they battled all the way trying to secure the win they needed but could not find a way through. Celtic were also reduced to 10 men with five minutes remaining when Ryan Strachan was shown a straight red after he held back Archie Campbell who was through on goal. Rangers seemed lacklustre in the first half and were outplayed by Celtic. Billy Kirkwood's boys were forced to play much of the opening period in their own half after being hemmed in. Despite being the better side, Celtic failed to create any real goal-scoring opportunities, with most of their attempts coming from distance. They lacked any creativity or cutting edge in the final third. Towell's shot from just outside the penalty area after six minutes went wide and failed to test Grant Adam. And a freekick, 20 yards out from Tidser, fifteen minutes later, again failed to trouble the Jamie Ness, RangersRangers keeper. Rangers had the best chance of the opening 45 minutes when Kal Naismith skewed his right footed shot over from 12 yards out after being played in by Hutton. If the first half belonged to Celtic then the second most certainly belonged to Rangers. Kirkwood's boys got out of the blocks early in the second period and were keen to keep their title dream alive. After just four minutes in, Gregg Wylde ran at the heart of the Celtic defence from the left before hammering a shot which hit the side netting. Even with the dismissal of Hutton on 55 minutes, Rangers showed real fight and determination. Kane Hemmings' effort on the edge of the box forced a save low down from Daniele Giordano on 65 minutes. Archie Campbell, RangersThe came the controversial moment five minutes from time when Campbell might have won the game for Rangers. He showed great determination to win the ball and went on excellent run in which he beat three men before being cynically pulled back while through on goal by Strachan, who was instantly dismissed. Rangers, though, could do nothing with the free kick. In stoppage time Rangers threw everything at Celtic. Gordon Dick forced an excellent save out of Giordano after Campbell's most delightful touch to bring the ball down. And a Wylde corner was whipped in across the face of the Celtic box that Scott Durie almost turned in at the far post. However, it finished goal-less and Rangers now have to win their two remaining matches and hope that Motherwell can do them a favour against Hibs. RANGERS: 1. Adam 2.Durie 3.Wylde 4.Wilson 5.Cole 6.Ness 7.Hutton 8.Stirling 9.Campbell 10.Naismith (Miller, Dick) 11.Hemmings (Bagci). Subs not used: Vaiculis, Forbes, Scott, McGeough

Well you can decide if it's interesting. If the Hibernian at least match Motherwell's result with St Mirren when we travel to Leith (god forbid it's any more than a heavy defeat :devil:) or as long as St Mirren manager a victory, the teams currently occupying top 6 places will remain so for the post-split fixtures. Strathclyde police have already decreed that the Old Firm should be the 9th of May, the second post-split fixture, to minimise any repeat incidents from Celtic fans as witnessed in May 99. However, how have the two sides fared in the corresponding fixtures earlier in the season and can they give us any insight into who holds the edge going into these crunch end of season fixtures? At the momment, Hibernian hold the advantage of currently occupying 6th spot, so first we will consider how the fixtures will likely pan out if they finish in the top half come Sunday afternoon. The results achieved by the ourselves and Celtic in the same fixtures earlier this season are as follows (inc. 1 remaining pre-split fixture): These fixtures earlier in the season saw us collect 10 out of a maximum 18 points with a slender +3 improvement in the goal difference. Not overly impressive, but a better return than Celtic's 8 points from the 18 available. The above results are displayed in no particular order with reference to how the split might pan out. However it is clear to see and will not be news to fans of any club, but the remaining Old Firm and the two remaining away ties at Tynecastle and Tannadice remain our biggest tests. Celtic will not be relishing another trip to Edinburgh to take on Hibernian, nor their two remaining fixtures with Aberdeen who have shown a reasonable ability to take points off Celtic across recent seasons. The fact that the remaining Old Firm game is at Ibrox will also be of concern. Should we defeat Hibernian this weekend and Motherwell collect 3 points against St Mirren they will replace Hibs in the top 6 and the post-split fixtures become more complicated. As Hearts did not finish top 6 last season they will not be seeded by the league chiefs to finish top 6 this year. That means that if Motherwell do attain the final top 6 spot it is Hearts whose fixtures would change with Motherwell "due" an away tie at Parkhead and home match with Rangers. Celtic would not relish now being sent to Tynecastle yet again this season. Of course, nothing is ever certain with the SPL split, however that is the accepted wisdom for how the fixtures will be resolved. If Motherwell were to steal a top 6 spot the related statistics for each side's corresponding fixtures earlier in the season are altered: With the fixtures unevenly weighted compared to the first example, (Celtic would travel to Tynecastle for a third time, whilst we would again welcome them to Ibrox) it is harder to make statistical sense of the date. What is apparent though is that Celtic would be keen to avoid returning to Tynecastle so soon after being lucky to escape with a draw thanks to an early Hesselink strike. The flip side of that is a game against Motherwell, managed by their good friend Mark McGhee. The Lanarkshire club's manager openly admitted last year he would prefer Celtic won the title last year and with his team already conceding 7 out of a possible 9 to Celtic this year the hooped hordes would be confident of maximum points in such an important fixture. From looking at the two scenarios, even a cursory glance shows which scenario might better suit or hopes. In scenario A we amassed 10 points from 18 in the same fixtures earlier this year to Celtic's 8 (A rate of 1.67 points per game compared to Celtic's 1.33). In the second set of potential fixtures we acrued only 12 points from a possible 21 to Celtic's 14 (1.71 points/game compared to their 2). So whilst we collected more points in the games from scenario B earlier in the season, the improvement in Celtic's results was even greater. The accepted wisdom is that Motherwell securing the final top 6 spot would likely send the tar riers to Gorgie for the third time this year giving Celtic a very difficult fixture to negotiate. However, with the SPL nothing is certain, Celtic may not be asked to return to Tynecastle. Particularly with their club's spokespeople already kicking up a hubbub about the post split fixtures and Strathclyde's finest intervention to limit the potential fallout from their followers. In any case, the number of points collected earlier in the season, whilst a useful indicator of our potential opponent's threat to our title aspirations, may have no bearing on the fixtures still to come. They do, however, produce an interesting point of debate ahead of 6 monumental fixtures for Smith, McCoist, McDowall and the players.

SCOTT BROWN slammed the ruling that will keep him out of next monthââ?¬â?¢s Old Firm title decider and insisted: Iââ?¬â?¢m being picked on. Bookings from LAST season mean the Celtic midfielder will miss the May 9 crunch. Thatââ?¬â?¢s left the Player of the Year nominee seething at the SFAââ?¬â?¢s disciplinary rules. Brown rapped: ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢m being punished for last season. I feel thatââ?¬â?¢s wrong. If you look down in England if you go three or four months your record is wiped. ââ?¬Å?Some of the players in the Premiership have 11 yellow cards but they are suspended for just one game. ââ?¬Å?I knew I was close to a suspension so I was trying to take things a bit easier. ââ?¬Å?But I feel as though Iââ?¬â?¢ve cleaned up my act this season. ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢ve not been banned before and for the position I play that is good going. Iââ?¬â?¢m getting punished worse than a lot of players. You calm down and youââ?¬â?¢re still getting punished. ââ?¬Å?Itââ?¬â?¢s not the fairest thing in the world at this stage of the season ââ?¬â? six bookings and a two match ban. Itââ?¬â?¢s a nightmare. ââ?¬Å?Itââ?¬â?¢s such a massive game as well. I donââ?¬â?¢t know if it will be a title decider but it will certainly go a long way to determining who wins the league. These are the games you want to be involved in.ââ?¬Â Brownââ?¬â?¢s two-game ban kicks in after Saturdayââ?¬â?¢s clash with Aberdeen at Parkhead. The 23-year-old was cautioned 14 times last season, compared with just the eight bookings heââ?¬â?¢s collected this year. Now he fears he will lose his place for the title run-in ââ?¬â? just like last year. Brown groaned: ââ?¬Å?If Iââ?¬â?¢m out of the team I might not get back in because Barry Robson or whoever might come in and do a great job. ââ?¬Å?It can be a double whammy because you can lose your place in the team.ââ?¬Â But Brown reckons Gordon Strachanââ?¬â?¢s squad is strong enough to cope without him. The former Hibs kid said: ââ?¬Å?The manager has some big players like Barry, Paul Hartley and Marc Crosas so we certainly have a big enough squad to cope. ââ?¬Å?Maybe Gary Caldwell can play there as well. ââ?¬Å?Well, Gary could go there I suppose! ââ?¬Å?Seriously, these are the games you want to play in.ââ?¬Â http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/article2381148.ece

Pedro Mendes moved away from the best league in the world to come to Scotland and doesn't regret it for a minute. But yesterday he was left scratching his head at the inability of his fellow pros north of the border to pick a player. Not that he thinks Steven Davis, Scott Brown and Gary Caldwell - as well as himself - can't play the game. The Old Firm quartet, nominated by the PFA Scotland for their Player of the Year award, have had fine seasons and few would argue at their right to be in the shake-up. But in Mendes' mind, there is only one worthy winner of the trophy this term - the man whose goals have almost singled-handedly kept Rangers' title hopes alive. Mendes has played with and against the best in Portugal and England but has rarely seen anyone with Kris Boyd's radar for goal. In fact, he can recall lining up with only one other in possession of the same strikers' mentality and it is a guy who almost joined Rangers a decade ago. Brazilian Jardel was paraded at Ibrox but his move fell through and he ended up at Bolton before joining forces with Mendes at Porto. Now the midfielder is setting up goals for a player he believes has striking similarities with the South American. He said: "For me, Boyd would play all the time. He is a top scorer, a finisher and it is good for us that he belongs to Rangers. "It's beyond me why he hasn't been nominated. I would vote for him if I could. Improving "We had a player who came from Bolton - Jardel - who played with me at Porto. Boydy is so like him. "Sometimes Jardel would not look interested but at the right time he would be and he scored 40 goals a season at Porto. It was unbelievable. "Sometimes his touch wasn't the best but he could score every kind of goal. "It's similar with Boydy. He's got 28 at the moment and with six more games to go I don't know how many goals he can score - I hope 45 or 50. "Jardel was the same. He was a great finisher but you couldn't expect much more from him. "That's what we want from Boyd - just to score. Even so, he is improving his game very much outside the box. "If we win the league, Boydy's goals will have been the key. "There have been games in which we have struggled and suddenly Boydy has scored. "We know if we can give him a good delivery inside the box, he can finish. It's a big bonus for us." While our neighbours in the Premiership are congratulating themselves on having three clubs in the last four of the Champions League for the third year running, the Rangers midfielder couldn't be happier that he jumped Hadrian's Wall in the summer to ply his trade in the SPL. And he insists the quality of player in Scotland is much better than the league is often given credit for. Mendes, who is a member of the English PFA and didn't have a Scottish vote, went on to reel off a series of names who have impressed him - even if he did joke that his picks would have been countrymen Bruno Aguiar and Felipe Morais if he had been handed a ballot paper. He said: "I train and play with Rangers players every day and it is a pleasure to play with them. But Celtic have great players, like Nakamura and McGeady. "Then you go to Dundee United where Sandaza and Gomis are very good players and at St Mirren, Dorman is a very good player. "I would have voted for my countrymen Aguiar and Morais. Not because they are my countrymen. "Aguiar has done a fantastic job for Hearts. He is a very good player. Morais just joined Inverness in January and has been very good for them. "I also think that Falkirk are a fantastic team. They are one of the best in possession, yet they are struggling. "For me, that is a difficult one to understand because they have very good technical players but they don't score enough. "There is quality and very good players everywhere. Maybe that's why the Old Firm are dropping more points." They might be but it is making for an exciting end to the season and Mendes is loving it. In fact, the chase for the titles is the reason he gave up a good life in Portsmouth. He said: "One of the big things about playing for Rangers is that everyone expects you to win every game. In other championships, the top teams sometimes lose and it is not such a big thing. But in Scotland the pressure is there all the time. "I knew how big Rangers were and that Scottish football was more or less two teams playing for the title every season. "With the number of fans the club has, the pressure is there all the time to win and when a club like Rangers spend three years without winning the title the pressure is even greater. "The most important thing is to finish the season on a high. That's what we are aiming for. "Rangers and Celtic are dropping points more often than they usually do but it's all about how it finishes. "Sometimes you want something new - new leagues, new clubs and Rangers are such a big club. I knew it would be a big challenge for me and I made the move. I was leaving the Premiership, which is probably the best league in the world. "But it was a chance to come to a massive club and that helped me decide. I didn't ask for advice. Sometimes it is better to go with what you think rather than talk to someone. "Together with my family, we decided it would be a good move for us and I am pleased with it." Mendes will be even more pleased if he ends up with a championship medal at the end of his debut season in Scotland. The Player of the Year award would just be an added bonus, even if he thinks it should have gone to his big mate Boydy. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2009/04/17/kris-boyd-is-rangers-answer-to-jardel-says-teammate-pedro-mendes-86908-21284375/

It seems a million miles away that a match featuring 7th place Motherwell and 10th place St Mirren could have a major impact on the 2008-09 SPL title race, but that is just what it could end up becoming. The fact that Motherwell need to beat St Mirren to have any chance of reaching the top 6, and therefore ensure further matches against the top sides and a push for a European place should really have no impact on a title race between Rangers and their city rivals. However should Motherwell, as expected, win tomorrow lunchtime's live match, it will put all the pressure on Hibs to get the win they will need to retain 6th place in this last set of fixtures before the league is carved up. It is not as if Hibs should need any more motivation to beat Rangers at home, as they themselves need the points in their push for a European slot even if Motherwell lose, but it would then become their last chance to make the top 6, to make Europe, and to prevent the remaining 5 games becoming meaningless, with dwindling crowds and little motivation. From our point of view of course, it means so much more. If motherwell draw tomorrow, Hibs are guaranteed 6th place if they avoid a 4 goal defeat, and a repeat of helicopter sunday could easily be foreseen if we are a couple of goals up after 75 minutes. The other major consideration of tomorrow's result is of course the implications the 6th place team will have on the post-split fixtures, due to be announced after our game on Sunday. If Motherwell make 6th place, it means in all probability that our remaining away fixtures will be at Dundee United and Motherwell, whilst our rivals will have to travel to Ibrox, Tynecastle and Pittodrie. If Hibs make it, it looks more likely that we will have to go to Tynecastle instead of Fir Park, while the scum go to Easter Road instead of Tynecastle. On paper, a trip to Tynecastle is the hardest fixture left for both sides outside the Old Firm game, and there is no doubt the away fixtures against the top 6 have been very difficult for both sides this season. It could be to our advantage if Hibs make the top 6, but for that to happen and it not affect our title challenge by dropping points to them on Sunday, it has to come from the failure of Motherwell to win their final pre-split match at home to St Mirren tomorrow. Normally, a match between these two would not interest me one bit, but I, like many bears I am sure, will have more than a passing interest in this match tomorrow, and will be hoping that former Rangers player Gus McPherson can do his old team a favour against former scum player and still a supporter (dont forget his disgusting team selections and pro-scum comments post-split last season) Mark McGhee. Altogether now, oh when the Saints.........

Celtic midfielder Scott Brown says missing the final Old Firm game of the season at Ibrox through suspension will be a "nightmare". More...

Scott Brown and Pedro Mendes are two of four Old Firm players shortlisted for the PFA Scotland Player of the Year award. More...

STEVE DAVIS and Pedro Mendes have been short-listed for the PFA Scotland Player of the Year award. The Rangers midfielders have been named along with Celtic pair Scott Brown and Gary Caldwell as the candidates for this year's honour. Davis and Mendes have been key men for the Light Blues this season as they strive to wrest the title back from their rivals and retain the Homecoming Scottish Cup. The voting for the Cheque Centre/PFA Scotland Player of the Year Awards has now closed. Footballers from across the four Scottish leagues have cast their votes and the four Old Firm players are the front runners. In the Young Player of the Year category Andrew Driver (Hearts), Steven Fletcher (Hibernian), James McCarthy (Hamilton), and James McArthur (Hamilton) are all nominated. The winners will be announced and presented with their awards at a star-studded dinner at the Hilton Glasgow on Sunday May 3 sponsored by Cheque Centre I can't understand why Davis & Mendes are up for this ????,Bougherra yes

MARK WALTERS rejected a plea from Sir David Murray to snub Liverpool and stay at Rangers. Now he looks back and confesses he may have been WRONG to turn his back on Ibrox. Walters was a right-wing revelation for the Gers, scoring an impressive 51 goals in 143 games, including an extra-time winner in an Old Firm Cup Final. But the skilful wideboy followed Graeme Souness to Anfield in 1991, despite a last-ditch offer from Gers chairman Murray to spearhead the Rangers attack under new boss Walter Smith. Walters said: ââ?¬Å?It was very hard for me to leave. I was happy and we had won three titles in a row. ââ?¬Å?But when Liverpool came in it was different. ââ?¬Å?It wasnââ?¬â?¢t just any old club, it was Englandââ?¬â?¢s most successful club and I felt it was too good a chance to miss. ââ?¬Å?Sir David Murray tried to convince me to stay and warned me Iââ?¬â?¢d regret moving, and maybe I do, but I felt I had to accept a new challenge.ââ?¬Â Walters arrived at Ibrox on New Yearââ?¬â?¢s Eve 1987. His early games were blighted by sickening racist chants and abuse, but he brushed them off and won the crowd over with the magic in his boots. He had burst onto the English scene with Aston Villa, but as the Midlands club struggled the wingerââ?¬â?¢s career stalled. Until Gers boss Souness swooped. In just over three years in Govan, Walters won three league titles and two Skol Cups, but alongside the glorious highs there were rare disappointments. He admitted: ââ?¬Å?Villa were a sleeping giant and my career wasnââ?¬â?¢t really going anywhere. I needed a change and was delighted when Rangers came in. ââ?¬Å?They were a huge club playing regularly in Europe, so for me it was a dream switch. ââ?¬Å?There was a bit of racism from a minority in my first few games, but Iââ?¬â?¢d encountered a little of it in England so I wasnââ?¬â?¢t too affected by that. ââ?¬Å?Winning the league and scoring in cup finals were memories Iââ?¬â?¢ll never forget, while Iââ?¬â?¢ll also never forget my first Gers goal, which was against Raith Rovers. ââ?¬Å?My biggest disappointment was losing the 1989 Scottish Cup Final. ââ?¬Å?We were after a treble, but we lost it at the final hurdle to Celtic, which made it doubly difficult. ââ?¬Å?But in the main all my memories of Ibrox are happy ones.ââ?¬Â Walters played alongside some of footballââ?¬â?¢s top stars in his time with Rangers, Liverpool and Villa. But just who would he select for his dream XI? SunSport took him down memory lane to find out. Chris Woods: Great all-round keeper, as brilliant at dominating his box and claiming crosses as he was shot-stopping. My Rangers team-mate would have had more caps had he not been Peter Shiltonââ?¬â?¢s understudy. Steve Nicol: Great engine and comfortable, and good enough, to play anywhere across the Liverpool back four or the midfield. Richard Gough: Another Ibrox team-mate and another very comfortable on the ball. He scored a lot of goals as well and he was so fit. Advertisement Click here Terry Butcher: Richardââ?¬â?¢s centre-half partner and another brilliant player. He had a fantastic range of passing and a never-say-die attitude. Great leader in the dressing room. Tony Dorigo: Great athlete who got up and down the park all day. We played together at Villa and, like the others in my dream team defence, Tony was capable of scoring goals. Mark Walters: I gave a decent run of goals for my position but I also made a few and liked to try and entertain the fans. Gordon Cowans: Deceptively strong for a small guy and never shirked a tackle. Technically very good and ran all day. Ian Durrant: Would have been among the best in the world had he not had that injury. I considered him world-class in his early 20s. Heââ?¬â?¢d have been the Scottish version of someone like Gazza for his ability on the ball. John Barnes: Born entertainer but very disciplined defensively. He scored a lot of goals and it was a pleasure to play alongside him at Liverpool. Ian Rush: Many headlines for his goals but there was so much more to his game. He helped start so many attacks for Liverpool by winning the ball off the opposition defenders. Peter Withe: Scored Villa winner in the European Cup Final. Great foil for Rush, holding the ball up as the target man. http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/article2378914.ece

Celtic midfielder Barry Robson hopes to play in the final Old Firm game of the season as he battles back from a groin injury. More...

THE FINAL Old Firm derby of the season will be played at Ibrox on Saturday, May 9 with a 12.30pm kick off. And that means that Madjid Bougherra will be able to take part as he will complete his one match suspension the weekend before. Celtic, however, will be missing midfielder Scott Brown who misses the first two games after the split. An SPL statement said: "Following consultations with Strathclyde Police and the Heads of Security from Rangers and Celtic, the SPL today confirmed that the final Old Firm game of the season will take place at Ibrox Stadium on Saturday 9 May 2009, kick-off 12.30pm. The match will be broadcast live by Setanta Sports." The May 9 date gives the Rangers medical team some time to try to clear the injury situation.

I have heard that Boyd and Mendes are walking a disciplinary tight rope. If they were to be booked this weekend they would be unavailable for the second post split game with the way suspensions kick in and of course that fixture is currently pencilled in as the final Old Firm. Bearing that in mind would anyone be tempted to rest Mendes and play Barry to ensure the Portuguese playmaker is available for the Old Firm tie, be it the first or second post split game (I don't think there is any way they would risk having it later)? Or would you be worried it would weaken our team for the Hibs game and potentially cost us three points. THe Boyd situation is slightly different. I'm not sure we have an adequate replacement for him this weekend and Smith could very well drop him for the Old Firm in any case. What would Gersnet do?

What a difference a couple of weeks make. Even before the clouds began circling over Ibrox after the behaviour of a couple of the club�s biggest stars on international duty, there was a general malaise and negativity down Govan way. Having let a lead in the SPL slip, with Celtic stretching their advantage at the top to 3 points overturning a 10 goal deficit in the goal difference and taking the league title out of our hands, even accounting for the remaining Old Firm match at Ibrox. This was followed up with a lacklustre defeat in the CIS cup. Finally all the excitement and hype of last season�s enthralling chase for four trophies had ebbed away. Questions are continually asked of Smith�s tactics and of team formations and line ups. Summer signings are under increasing scrutiny. So the last thing we needed was the suspension of the club captain and the number 1. A squad decimated by injuries to Thomson, Lafferty, Miller and Papac amongst others. Without so many key performers how could we possibly halt the relentless march of Strachan�s side to another title? Therein lies the problem with objectively discussing football, especially when it surrounds Scotland�s most successful team. Everything is either rosy, or we facing the apocalypse. There is no in between. When in reality the truth lies somewhere in the middle. There are shades of grey. Whilst all the newspapers column inches were taken up with ex-pros and pundits lining up to take a pop at Ferguson and McGregor, new club captain Davie Weir and his team mates have gone about their business in quiet if unspectacular fashion. Weir�s first opportunity to lead his side out as fully fledge captain, as opposed to the stand in role he has ably filled in the past, resulted in a 1-0 victory. A satisfactory outcome at the end of a difficult week for Rangers Football club. At this stage of the season, every game is about earning the 3 points and not worrying about the manner in which they are achieved. The win at the Falkirk Stadium was the beginning of a welcome return to goal-scoring form of Kris Boyd. After not scoring for 5 games, the prolific hitman has found the back of the net 4 times in the last 3 games and is looking to continue his scoring form in the season run in as we chase league and cup success. Lee McCulloch filled in for Ferguson in his absence against the SPL�s basement club. However injury to the former-Wigan midfielder saw Edu promoted to the role of Pedro Mendes� engine room partner. The young American, having had longer to settle in a new country had looked more composed and has been more involved than in his earlier cameo�s this season. Smith�s injury and suspension ravaged side followed up that victory with a maximum 3 points against another struggling side in St Mirren. The Paisley outfit looked like they were in for a long afternoon when Boyd and then Beasley fired Rangers into an early 2-0 deficit. Much like other recent fixtures, such as the dropped points against Hearts, we failed to kill off McPherson�s side and an Andy Dorman second half strike made for a nervy finish. In truth however St Mirren rarely threatened and another deserved victory was ensured. Even in spite of the opposition, 2 back to back away victories will bread confidence given our away record in recent years. Edu followed up his late appearance against Falkirk with his first goal for the club and a strong performance that led to him being given some spectators motm award. The appalling anti-football tactics of St Mirren, with some tackles more recognised in the Octagon at a UFC event, increased Rangers mounting injury problems with both Papac and Beasley first half casualties. As alluded to at the start of this piece though, along with the imminent return of Lafferty, Papac and Beasley are expected to return in the coming weeks. Andrius Velicka made a second late appearance as a sub as we ran the clock down. Even the Lithuanian himself will no doubt have been surprised to return to the starting line up for the first time this year as we welcomed Mark McGhee�s Cel.... sorry Motherwell to Ibrox. With just 2 minutes on the clock, the big Lithuanian had repaid his manager�s faith with the opening goal and is being picked by some as a surprise starter in the upcoming Old Firm. Not to be undone by his strike partner, Boyd scored for the third match in succession with another goal of the season contender before rounding off the victory with a penalty after Brian McLean felled Mendes in the box. After the international fall out, Smith will have been incredibly pleased to have picked up maximum points. The first time his side have won 3 games in a row since September and he will be looking to extend that run when we travel to Leith on Sunday. Smith will also be pleased in the manner in which Edu has come into the midfield and offered a balance that arguably was missing when Mendes and Ferguson, two players who are excellent going forward but less disciplined defensively, play together. Neil Alexander has stepped in to fill McGregor�s gloves to great effect and it demonstrates the defensive strength of Walter Smith�s squad that such a massive change at a critical stage of the season has barely been worthy of discussion since Alexander first pulled on the gloves against Falkirk. The return of Stevie Smith to offer competition to Papac, who is hoping to be fit for this weekend�s match, is another welcome boost. Smith played in left midfield against Motherwell as Walter looked to ease him back into fold and with the inability of any player to make that position his own, the committed display against our Lanarkshire neighbours should be enough to allow Steven to keep his place this weekend. As had been mentioned earlier on, Boyd�s return to goal-scoring form has come at a vital time with Lafferty and Miller struggling for fitness and Novo and Naismith struggling for form. The Ayrshire hitman is looking to break the 30 goal mark and if he can get near to the 39 he scored the year Eck bought him from Killie there is every possibility that will be enough to secure league flag number 52. The emergence of Velicka from the wilderness could also be important with striking options getting thinner by the week. Added to all of this, the relentless pursuit of victories and 3 points, the return to form of key players and the re-emergence of some of the squad�s forgotten men is the boost of the announcement of the final Old Firm fixture, confirmed for the second post-split fixture on May 9th. This news means that Bougherra�s one match suspension, that rules him out of the opening post split tie will be served when Celtic travel to Govan. The Algerian stopper was unavailable as McDonald took advantage of Kirk Broadfoot�s lack of games in his favoured centre-back role and Celtic ran out 1-0 winners. He was also unable to prevent the 2-0 loss last month. The classy defender has to be the leading candidate for both Rangers and the SPL�s POTY. I, as no doubt most other fans, will be relieved that the Bougherra should be marshalling our back line in the final Old Firm encounter of the year. There are a number of issues still to be addressed at Ibrox and Murray Park, both on the field and in the boardroom. However, recent weeks have shown we have strength in depth of quality within the squad and a strength of character capable of winning this League and the Scottish Cup. If we win the two games prior to the Old Firm, beginning with Hibs this weekend, will take us into the Old Firm knowing a victory at Ibrox will put us in the driving seat for the Championship with all the momentum on our side of the city. The opportunity is there. It is up to Walter Smith, Davie Weir and co. to grasp it with both hands.

TOMMY WILSON'S reserve side earned a vital 2-1 win over Aberdeen that keeps their league title hopes alive after Celtic lost away to Hearts. With three games remaining Wilson's side are seven points behind their Old Firm rivals with the pair set to meet at Ibrox on April 28. A victory for Celtic at Forthbank would have ended the Gers' league challenge this afternoon but news of their defeat came just as the light blues secured victory. It was a hard fought but thoroughly deserved win for Wilson's side as a penalty from Stevie Smith and a John Fleck strike midway through the second half put them in control. A late Michael Paton penalty for the visitors made it a nervy final five minutes but the Gers had enough to hold on for three important points. They had dominated the opening 45 minutes, hitting the woodwork on three separate ocassions, despite losing Alan Lowing to injury after just 10 minutes. The right back came off worst in a 50/50 challenge and was replaced by Scott Durie who had only been included in the squad after a warm up injury to Ross Perry. John FleckIt didn't disrupt the flow for the home side though and they peppered the Dons' goal with long range efforts as Andrew Little and Stevie Lennon both tested Bertrand Bossu from the edge of the area. Little's rising left foot effort looked bound for the top corner until the giant keeper tipped it away at full stretch. And Lennon cam just as close when his strike from a similar spot was deflected behind after he had collected the ball following some wonderful movement by John Fleck. But the best chance of the first half came a little over ten minutes before the interval when a sweeping move ended with Little laying the ball in to the path of Lennon, but the forward could only fire his effort off the bar as Rangers hit the woodwork for the third time. With the match unfolding as though it may not to be Rangers' day there was relief when the deadlock was broken four minutes in to the second half. Andrius Velicka went down under the challenge of Samuel Stewart and left penalty duties to his first team colleague Smith, who duly despatched the ball low to the Dons keeper's left. Stevie SmithSmith was then replaced by Steph Stirling on the hour mark, perhaps with Sunday's visit to Easter Road in mind. And it took Rangers just five more minutes to secure the points when Velicka picked out John Fleck with a pinpoint pass and the 17-year-old made no mistake from just inside the box. Stirling came close to increasing that lead with eight minutes remaining as he rattled the Dons' woodwork for the fourth time in the match with a powerful drive from the edge of the area. However it was the visitors that would complete the scoring when Scott Gallacher was judged to have fouled Paton in the six yard box and the match's second penalty was awarded. Paton converted, but Rangers held out for the final few minutes to keep alive a slim hope of reserve league success. Rangers: Gallacher; Lowing (Durie 10), Webster, Wilson, Wylde; Lennon, Hemdani, Little, S.Smith (Stirling 60); Velicka (Miller 72), Fleck. Subs: Vaiculis.

TOMMY Wilson's reserve side will hope to keep the title race alive this afternoon but know victory over Aberdeen at Murray Park may not be enough for them. Tommy WilsonThey trail Old Firm rivals Celtic by ten points with four games remaining and know that a win for the league leaders over Hearts will end their hopes. But Wilson, who hopes to include returning first teamers Stevie Smith and Andrius Velicka as well as John Fleck in his match squad, admits while he retains hopes of a title success he knows his side are in a tough spot. He said: "We know a Celtic win will be enough for them but we just have to keep it going for as long as we can. "Given the circumstances surrounding the reserve side this season if I'd thought we would even be in with a slim chance at this stage I'd have been delighted. "We've had so many guys go out on loan and there have been a few move up to the first team too, but that's what it's all about for us. "If you look at the first team squad for Saturday's win over Motherwell it included Neil Alexander, Christian Dailly, Stevie Smith, Andrius Velicka and Mo Edu. "They've all played a big part over the season for us and that's meant that they've been ready when this first team chance has come along for them. "It would obviously be nice to win the reserve league this season but our primary role is to make sure the first team is well served." Kick-off for today's home meeting with Aberdeen at Murray Park is 2pm.

Penciled in for the second post split game apparently. Saturday May 9th. If that was the case Bougherra would be available.

This was the story of a rekindled love affair, hidden away inside a football match. It unfolded in front of 50,000 engrossed spectators and featured Steven Smith as the protagonist of the piece. An appreciation of the back story is vital. Smith had risen through the ranks at Rangers to become a first-team regular under Alex McLeish by the time he was 20. Despite his youth, he was spoken of as a future Scotland cap and had many anticipating that he and Alan Hutton would become established as Rangers' first-choice full-backs for a decade or more. Alas for Smith, injuries would curtail that progress. Pelvic and groin problems that had troubled him in his youth returned. He turned out for Paul Le Guen in an Old Firm match in December 2006 and was barely seen or heard of again. advertisement The injuries subsided and he was able to play in two Scottish Cup ties last season before disappearing into the background again. This season, fit again after recovering from an ankle knock, he has been simply unable to get into the team. Reluctantly, he agreed to move on from Rangers. A loan deal to St Mirren was agreed in January only for red tape to block the move. Smith, now 23, resigned himself to his fate, training every day knowing there was little chance of him featuring come the weekend. He gave up on ever playing for Rangers again. A mounting injury crisis, though, was to hand him an unexpected reprieve. Saturday marked his first league start for 28 months, in left midfield no less, and he responded with the sort of energetic, wholehearted performance that had helped forge his reputation all those years ago. Little surprise, then, that he seemed a little dazed but delighted as he mulled over a tumultuous few days. "It has been a long time, and difficult as well with injuries and then coming back but not playing," he said. "I never thought I would get the chance to play for Rangers again, to be honest with you, but a lot of the boys are injured and that was what it was going to take for me to get my chance. Hopefully I did well enough to get another one." Smith, an amiable if somewhat private man, did not even notify close family or friends that he would be playing for fear of creating too much of a distraction. "I wasn't really nervous," he added. "I never thought about it too much. If I had it might have hindered my performance. I just put my boots on and went out to play football. That's what I wanted to do. I never even told my family I was playing. I just wanted to go out there and let everybody know that I was back." Even when fit, there had seemed no way back for Smith. He stopped travelling to the matches, preferring to sit at home and watch the results come in from all across the country. Only the joy of looking after Ashton, his seven month-old son, preserved his sanity. He said: "It's hard training Monday to Friday and not getting a game at the end of the week. Playing with the reserves on a Tuesday, you don't prepare mentally the same. You try, but it's not the same as running out there in front of 50,000 every week. It's strange - you get used to not playing and not being involved. It's even harder when there's a squad of 26 going to games and you aren't there. "I didn't come to the games. I sat and watched Soccer Saturday on Sky, watched the scores coming in, and checked my coupon. I've got a wee baby now and when I got home after training on the Friday and I wasn't going to be involved at the weekend, I would go up and see him and it would take my mind off football. Maybe that was a good thing for me, getting away from football and getting my desire back." Smith was certain that he would be moving on in the summer. He recently played in a charity match for Cardiff City, alongside former Rangers team-mates Gavin Rae and Chris Burke, and a permanent transfer to the Championship side had been mooted. Should the door now be ajar for him to reignite his Rangers career, however, the player will be more than happy to stay put. "If I keep playing here then Cardiff doesn't come into the question, because this is the only place where I want to play," he said. "But if I'm not playing football then I'd need to move. I've got another year left on my contract. I still want to be a Rangers player and I've always wanted to play here. Hopefully, I'm back in the manager's thoughts and I've proved to him I can play at this level again. http://www.theherald.co.uk/sport/headlines/display.var.2501515.0.Heartrending_Smith_saga_features_a_twist_in_the_tail.php

Apr 11 2009 Andy McDonald The Old Firm are set to take London by storm at the start of next season. Celtic will be the first Scottish team to play at the new Wembley and Rangers will take on their old boss Paul Le Guen at the Emirates Stadium.. Gordon's Strachan's team will be first out of the blocks on the weekend beginning July 24 at the home of English football. In the Wembley Cup, they will face either Barcelona, Tottenham or African champions Al-Ahly during the two-day tournament. Seven days later, on August 1, Rangers will take on Arsenal, Inter Milan or Paris St Germain who are managed by Le Guen. If Barry Ferguson is still with the Ibrox side it will be the first time he has come face to face with the boss who first stripped him of the captaincy. For Rangers in particular, the Emirates Cup is a huge vote of confidence from south of the border following the riots in Manchester at last year's UEFA Cup Final. The Ibrox Club are expected to get more than 10,000 tickets for the glamour friendlies and it could net the club �£750,000. A club source said: "I'm sure our fans will relish the chance to show what a great club Rangers are . They will create a brilliant atmosphere at one of the world's finest stadiums." Celtic are understood to be thrilled at the prospect of playing at the new Wembley. The last Scottish team to play on the famous Wembley turf was our national side on November 18, 1999 when Don Hutchison scored the only goal of the game in a Euro 2000 play-off. Scotland missed out on qualifying 2-1 on aggregate. It's still unclear how many tickets the Parkead side will get but their massive travelling support will ensure a large percentage of the 90,000 seats.

Looks like bougerra could miss the final old firm game and his third in total after picking up a booking last night during the st mirren game, apparently the 3rd May has been penciled in for this match... a hammer blow to be honest and i dont fancy calamity dailly in there either:(

The Old Firm are on league duty against sides battling relegation as Celtic host Falkirk and Rangers visit St Mirren. More...

WITCH HUNT SPARKED V-SIGNS FROM SHAMED PLAYERS Image Flag By Jacqueline McGhie, 05/04/2009 CELTIC star Scott Brown was dubbed the luckiest player in Scotland last night - after escaping the Boozegate affair totally UNPUNISHED. It is understood the Hoops star stayed up drinking with shamed aces Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor and retired to bed just TWENTY MINUTES before his Old Firm rivals. But, astonishingly, he avoided being hammered by Scotland gaffer George Burley after being shielded by his contacts at the Daily Record, we can sensationally reveal. And while Brown was included in the starting line-up for the World Cup tie against Iceland, his mates were dropped to the bench because of the marathon drinking session at Cameron House. The move sparked a chain of events that ended in Ferguson and McGregor being banned from playing for Scotland for life and transfer-listed by their club. But a News of the World investigation can reveal today that other senior members of the Scotland squad believe that: BURLEY only disciplined the Gers pair after they were NAMED by the Record THE manager has FAILED to punish any other star who stayed up drinking, and FERGIE and McGregor only stuck their fingers up at Record photographers - NOT the Scotland fans or manager. Last night a source insisted: "Barry and Allan have been hung out to dry." The News of the World can reveal that senior players feel Hoops midfielder Brown dodged blame because of his close links to a Record journalist. And they believe that the newspaper DELIBERATELY stuck the knife into Gers skipper Fergie because he works for their bitter rivals, The Scottish Sun. Last night a source close to the Scotland camp, who has asked not to be named, hit out: "What is the difference between drinking for seven-and-a-half hours and drinking for seven hours and 10 minutes? All the boys are amazed at the way this issue spiralled out of control "Those 20 minutes seemed to make a world of a difference to Burley and the SFA because it resulted in McGregor and Ferguson being dropped from the team to face Iceland - yet Brown was in his usual place and being hailed as a HERO by the Tartan Army. "He clearly is a very lucky boy - or perhaps he is just fortunate to have friends in high places. "No one's condoning what the Rangers pair did at Hampden. They were IDIOTS. "But it certainly appears to have been more convenient for Burley to dump them after the Holland game than it was to drop Brown." We can reveal that the Record contacted the SFA on Monday with details of the drinking binge. But the newspaper only named Ferguson and McGregor - and, despite having ALL the info, failed to mention to officials that Brown had ALSO been up for the marathon booze session. The call went in two days after Record sports editor James Traynor was involved in an angry exchange with Ferguson during the previous week's trip to Holland for another World Cup qualifier. Ferguson confronted the columnist, who had previously vilified him and even urged Walter Smith to axe him if the Ibrox side wanted to win the title. In Friday's Record, Traynor wrote: "Only last week he (Ferguson) had turned to a sympathetic paper to moan that he's some kind of victim and that some of us have the knives out for him. "Then, late on Saturday night as we all prepared to retreat from another defeat in the Amsterdam ArenA, I had a conversation with Ferguson, who wanted to know why he is criticised and why I don't consider him captain material." Other Scotland players now feel the Record failed to mention Brown to the SFA, or in their report on Wednesday about the booze shame, because he is an important contact of the paper's senior football reporter Keith Jackson. One player, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "All the boys are amazed at the way this issue spiralled out of control. There has certainly been a lot of very selective reporting about what went on." Other Scotland stars who stayed up for the early morning drinking session were Steven Whittaker, Gary Teale and Alan Hutton - but they called it quits after a couple of hours. But the News of the World understands that Brown only made it back to his room around NOON on Sunday. Before then, he had collected a pair of hairclippers and SHAVED McGregor's head as the trio shared a laugh. One source said that the keeper was found slumped in a chair with his brown locks lying around him. But a short time after the Celtic ace left the party, Scotland coach Steven Pressley spotted Ferguson and McGregor at around 12.30pm - and ordered them back to their rooms. The pair were described as "drunk as skunks" after downing beer, expensive wine and vodka and Red Bull. It was suggested Ferguson then threw up in the hotel but our source said: "That is not true. They went off to to their beds without any fuss." It was the SFA's idea to lay on food and drink in a private room But, incredibly, it took Scotland boss Burley more than 48 hours to inform his skipper and goalkeeper that they were to be sent home in disgrace. And he only made that announcement after the Record had contacted him and made it clear they were going to go public and reveal details of the pair's boozy antics. The source added: "There has definitely been a witch-hunt for Allan and Barry." We can reveal that ALL the Scotland players were given permission to have a drink after returning to Scotland in the early hours of Sunday. Our man revealed: "It was the SFA's idea to lay on food and drink in a private room for those players who decided to go back to Cameron House. We were actually ENCOURAGED to go and relax there. "Other players went home - and could have stayed up and drank all night for all anyone knows. "But the lads who did that at Cameron House - on their DAY OFF - have been hammered for it. "Allan and Barry could have pointed the finger at certain team-mates and asked why they weren't coming in for the same punishment as them. "But they kept silent and took their punishment on the chin. Their frustration just seems to have boiled over at Hampden during the Iceland match. They were put in a high- pressure situation and handled it badly. "But a lot of the boys are suspicious about how this all started. "The hotel staff were absolutely fine with what was going on and, to my knowledge, there were no complaints from the public - or they would have been plastered all over the papers. "But the way two players have been demonised for having a drink seemed a bit over the top, considering they were far from being the only ones. "Even some of the SFA staff were having a drink in the same place." After originally ordering Ferguson and McGregor home from the Loch Lomond training camp, Burley reinstated them after being approached by senior players, including Manchester United star Darren Fletcher and Celts captain Stephen McManus. The delegation voiced their concerns over the way their team-mates were being "hung out to dry" while others who stayed up for a drink went unpunished. During heated discussions between Burley and his squad, it emerged that four others - Teale, Whittaker, Hutton and Brown - had also stayed up for some time on Sunday morning. Burley was told the players were RAGING that two of their teammates were taking the rap, while others who also failed to go straight to their beds were being let off the hook. Our source revealed: "The players told Burley he couldn't have one rule for some and another rule for others. They made it clear he should either send SIX players home or none at all. There had to be some consistency. "The message which came through loud and clear from Burley and his staff was that if the papers hadn't got hold of the story about the other boys, there wasn't an issue to deal with." It is understood Burley was persuaded to reinstate Ferguson and McGregor to his squad for the Iceland game and leave them on the bench. The pair even met with SFA officials and were encouraged to go through the post-match media zone and speak to newspapers after the game. Officials hoped the duo would reiterate their disappointment over their conduct. But that move backfired spectacularly when the players made obscene gestures from the bench during the game. And those gestures effectively ended their Rangers and Scotland careers. Yet a source close to the players revealed Ferguson and McGregor were NOT aiming their V-signs at the Tartan Army OR SFA chiefs. He said: "To suggest someone like Barry was having a go at the fans or George Burley is nonsense. They were aiming the gesture at the Daily Record photographers taking their picture. "You don't play for Scotland for 10 years and leave your wife and kids for 10 days as Barry did to take on Holland and Iceland unless playing for your country means something to you. "Anyone who says otherwise is trying to stir it. Clearly they've succeeded." http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/scottish/scottish_news/251687/Celtic-star-just-as-guilty-as-Rangers-duo-Barry-Ferguson-Allan-McGregor-Scott-Brown.html

by Lindsay Herron STEVIE NAISMITH is being given another reserve run-out today when he hopes to prove he is ready for a top team return at Falkirk on Sunday. The former Kilmarnock striker has been finding it hard in recent weeks to get into the action, although he did come on as a sub against Hearts on March 21. Tommy WilsonHowever, with Kyle Lafferty now missing with an ankle injury for at least three weeks it could be a chance for Naismith to stake his claim. The 23-year-old scored twice on his last reserve outing when Tommy Wilson's side defeated Hibs 2-1 on March 10. And he is liable to lead the line with Stevie Lennon today when Rangers meet Falkirk Reserves at Murray Park. Wilson's squad is stretched with so many reserve players on loan and two more joined the list yesterday when Steven Kinniburgh joined St Johnstone and Ross Harvey moved to Brechin City. With the international break there are also a number of other players unavailable so Wilson will have a young side out full of under-19 players. Graeme Smith, Stevie Smith and Brahim Hemdani from the first team squad will play. Rangers have the chance to cut Celtic's lead at the top to five points and they still have a home game to come against their Old Firm rivals so there is still plenty to play for. Wilson said: "We have quite a few lads missing and with so many reserve players on loan it makes it difficult. "Players like Aaron, Maurice Edu and Andrius Velicka would all probably have played but they are away so we have to juggle a bit. "The good thing about having the boys on loan is that if gives them a lot of experience and that's important. "However, at the same time we have to try to win Reserve matches. Hopefully the team we put out will be able to do that." Kick-off at Murray Park is 1pm.