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The Rangers juggernaut rolled into a sun drenched national stadium today for the semi-final of the Homecoming Scottish Cup. Walter Smith / Ally McCoist (whoever picks our cup teams) remained loyal to the players who have secured four consecutive SPL victories, with the only change being Christian Daily for the suspended Sasa Papac. Daily slotted into the right back position with the impressive SW moving to left back. Once again, Rangers started fantastically and were 1-0 up within the opening 74 seconds. Possession was gained wide left and the play was switched quickly to the opposite flank where Steve Davis played in Kris Boyd. With Boyd on the hunt for his 100th Rangers goal, the big striker turned and sent a shot goal-ward. His shot lacked conviction but was deflected into the path of Velicka who slammed home his third goal in three starts, his forth for the season. The Rangers support sat back and expected Rangers to use this early goal as a launch-pad, bit once again, after gaining an early initiative, we sat back and allowed St Mirren to settle and to dictate the pace of the game. Our midfield was struggling to cope and bar a decent Pedro Mendes shot, we didnââ?¬â?¢t threaten to extend our advantage. However, to be honest, St Mirren rarely threatened and Alexander was a mere spectator. Once again, in the first half, our play was fragmented, we offered little or no service to a static front pairing and our midfield surrendered possession and territory with ease. In truth, only Mo Edu transcended meritocracy in a dull and uninspiring first half which ended with a seemingly bad injury to Pedro Mendes. Rangers left the field knowing that a vast improvement was required to secure a place in the final. The 2nd half started as the first finished with St Mirren having the lions share of possession but with little end product. With Davis moving into the centre of midfield, Rangers and the Ulsterman started to dominate proceedings and Davis look far more accomplished in the centre (for 45 minutes) than he has looked wide right all season. It was a surging Davis run which set up the landmark 100th Rangers goal for Kris Boyd. Boyd becomes the first Rangers striker since Mark Hateley to reach the golden three figure mark. Boyd finished off the move with a clinical, cool and composed strike. Rangers sniffed blood and pressed for the third goal that would kill the game. With Edu and Davis controlling midfield and with Kenny Miller (who replaced Velicka) offering some pace and directness coupled with intelligent runs it wasnââ?¬â?¢t long until Rangers put the game to bed. The ball broke to Miller in the penalty area and he dispatched the ball into the net and secure Rangersââ?¬â?¢ place in the cup final. The remainder of the game was played out in the St Mirren half with Rangers looking for a forth goal to add some gloss to the score-line. Boyd, Miller, Novo and Edu all had chances, but we had to settle for a comfortable 3-0 scoreline. One thing Iââ?¬â?¢d like to highlight is the state of the Hampden pitch. Players sliding all over the place, the ball sticking in the surface (three times I watched Novo then Miller try to run with the ball at their feet, only for the ball to get stuck in the pitch ââ?¬â?? not conducive to fast, free-flowing football). Weââ?¬â?¢ll have to wait to hear the extent of Mendesââ?¬â?¢ injury, but with Davis looking more composed in the centre, we have the Ulsterman to rely on if Mendes is to miss any games. Boogie is suspended for the visit of Hearts, so either Daily, McCulloch or Broadfoot will partner Weir in the centre of defence. All in all, a comfortable victory gained without really hitting top form, but it was fantastic to see three different scorers and the overall man of the match performance from Mo Edu is further evidence that the American can have a huge impact on Rangersââ?¬â?¢ run-in. The destination of both the SPL title and the Homecoming Scottish Cup is firmly in our own hands. Players Ratings Alexander ââ?¬â?? a mere spectator for large periods of the game ââ?¬â?? had one shot to deal with which he touched over the bar ââ?¬â?? 6/10 Daily ââ?¬â?? not the greatest performance from the utility man ââ?¬â?? booked for a rash tackle and didnââ?¬â?¢t offer much going forward ââ?¬â?? 5/10 Weir ââ?¬â?? Solid performance but his distribution is shocking ââ?¬â?? 5/10 Boogie ââ?¬â?? Has taken over the King Carlos (who?) mantle ââ?¬â?? great defensively and composed on the ball ââ?¬â?? 7/10 SW ââ?¬â?? not as effective as when he plays right back but was always willing to surge forward and had a decent game defensively ââ?¬â?? 6/10 Davis ââ?¬â?? struggled for the entire first half wide right ââ?¬â?? looked a completely different player through the middle in the 2nd half ââ?¬â?? had a hand in all three goals ââ?¬â?? 7/10 Mendes ââ?¬â?? was struggling to get a foot in the game before being carted off injured ââ?¬â?? not his best game ââ?¬â?? 5/10 Edu ââ?¬â?? only player to gain pass marks in the first half and hats off to him for raising his game even further in the 2nd half ââ?¬â?? MOTM by a long way ââ?¬â?? 9/10 Smith ââ?¬â?? once again struggled out left and left his wing to easily making us too narrow on occasions ââ?¬â?? tried hard tho ââ?¬â?? 5/10 Velicka ââ?¬â?? another game and another goal ââ?¬â?? do we have another Kris Boyd on our hands here ââ?¬â?? strong and harried all day ââ?¬â?? 6/10 Boyd ââ?¬â?? capped off a decent performance with his 100th goal for Rangers ââ?¬â?? another cool and composed finish from Boyd ââ?¬â?? 7/10 Novo ââ?¬â?? replaced the injured Mendes and struggled with the pitch ââ?¬â?? 5/10 Miller ââ?¬â?? once again, his pace, directness and intelligent runs opened up a few chances for Rangers ââ?¬â?? turning into a great impact player and got on the score-sheet ââ?¬â?? 6/10 Little ââ?¬â?? not really enough time to contribute ââ?¬â?? 4/10

MADJID BOUGHERRA has insisted that he is totally committed to Rangers and has no thoughts of leaving after post-match quotes at Hampden today were misinterpreted. The Algerian defender was interviewed in the media mixed zone after the 3-0 Homecoming Scottish Cup victory over St Mirren and appeared to say that he would seek a transfer if Rangers did not win the SPL. However, nothing could be further from the truth. What Bougherra was trying say was that if you don't have what it takes to win a title then you should play for a lesser club. Bougherra told rangers.co.uk: "First of all I have to say to the fans that I have no intention of leaving Rangers. "I was trying to say that if you don't have the mentality to win a championship then you should not be at a club like Rangers. "I did not express myself properly in English and I believe what I said sounded bad to the supporters listening to the radio. "It is my dream to win the title with Rangers and that is something I hope we can achieve. "I want to make it clear that I am very happy to play for Rangers and I want to have success this season. "It is great that we are in another cup final and we have five games left to win the league." Bougherra is suspended for the first post-split fixture with Hearts on Sunday, May 3.

According to the Mail, he's been told they'll listen to any reasonable offers for him, but its the usual story while being a non-story with no direct quotes. I know he's had his critics, but he can't be faulted for his work-rate, enthusiasm, fitness etc and has been one of those who does put in extra work on the training pitch. I also think he has improved a lot since he's been here, but I can't see him becoming a permanent fixture in the first team, so would he want to hang around if he's only going to be used as a backup player? I'm sure its not all about finances and we could work a deal out if we really wanted him to stay. Maybe he'll move elsewhere and find his level while getting a regular game at centre half. Whatever happens, I'd wish him all the best as quite a few of our players could learn a bit form his attitude if nothing else.

Rangers take on St Mirren at Hampden Park for a place in the Scottish Cup final. More...

This is a story of triumph for the human spirit. It is one of blossoming brilliance interrupted by demoralising adversity, yet replenished by courage and hope. It is the story of Steven Smith. Once upon a time, when Alan Hutton was making his tentative first steps as a Rangers first-team player to widespread apathy, Alex McLeish unearthed a left-back so cocksure and steadfast he seemed destined to endure on an international stage. Quick, cunning and adventurous, Smith appeared every ounce the modern, indefatigable wing back. Reared as a centre-forward and chiselled into an energetic midfielder in the youths, he was already regarded as a complete package by the time he made his first-team debut. His ascent was not without struggle or sacrifice. He had been afflicted by a pelvic problem throughout his teenage years, one that was frequently diagnosed but never remedied. Even as a youth, the pain prevented him from playing two games a week, an ominous situation for a young man in the prime of his life. The grinding wear and tear of the footballer's daily regimen necessitated two hernia operations and an endless search across the continent for a long-term solution to a career-threatening malady. advertisement Smith has been fit for as long as he caresto remember but, until he made his return to the first team two weeks ago, he was still being stopped in the street by well-wishers with long memories enquiring as to his condition. "The injury wasn't the hardest thing," hesaid, in the staccato style of conversation that became as much a trademark as whooshing deliveries into the box. "When I was injured I couldn't be picked, so it wasn't much of a problem but, when I was fit and not being picked for a squad of 26 boys, it was hard. It was weird. The manager was taking the whole squad to hotels before the game and to the away games in Europe. I just felt like a fan because I knew there was no chance of being on the bench or being involved. "I've had problems in the pelvic area since I was 16. I had two hernia operations in six months and the second one seems to have fixed it. I went to Belgium for three weeks to do a pre-season and have been all over the place for a cure. I'venot had a problem since I had my second hernia operation." Smith is too proud to indulge in self-pity. He was also too proud to knock on the manager's door for an explanation. Thereis a popular theory that perhaps explains his prolonged absence, injury aside. TheRangers manager prefers his full-backs to be sturdy and reliable first, and attack-minded second. It is why Kirk Broadfoot has prospered over Steven Whittaker. Smith's flaw is his lack of stature, a drawback that would be exploited by opponents. There is another strand to this: Smith is a single-minded and introverted young man, not one for the laddish banter of a first-team dressing room and, thus, a player who, at times, can appear detached from the manly merriment. Listening to him yesterday reaffirmed the belief that Smith is precisely the kind offootballer who deserves career fulfilment. "I didn't keep going to the manager," he said, revisiting his tough period. "I feel that if I show enough in training, I shouldn't have to go and speak to him. Sometimes you have something like a mental block, where you think that nothing you can do will get you into the team. You need to get through that and I'm sure there are a lot of boys at this club who think like that. "You need to come through the other side and I feel like I am doing that just now. I heard a few times that I wouldn't play again at a high level but I knew within myself that if I could get back training, Icould get back playing. It bothered other people more than me." Ironically, but for a conflict in SPL and SFA player registration legislation, Smith would have been a St Mirren player, while Inverness Caledonian Thistle had also enquired about his availability. At the time, he would have gone anywhere to reacquaint himself with competitive football. "I was sitting two or three weeks ago just wondering where Icould go to get a game," he admitted. "Isaid that, with a good pre-season under my belt, I felt I would have a chance of being involved in the first team but I got another injury and by the time I had recovered, the deadline was past. "The next deadline came about in January and I was going to go to St Mirren on loan but the rules prevented it. It was a difficult time. I just wanted to play football but couldn't get out. I spoke to Gus MacPherson on the phone. He told me to come to StMirren and enjoy myself; that was the main thing. I hadn't been enjoying playing with the reserves and I would have liked to go there but the rules prevented it." Would it have led to the severing of his Rangers ties or simply providing a vehicle to complete unfinished business? "I thought if I had gone there for six months and did well Icould have come back here and played. Ijust wanted to play football." Smith regularly punctuates his story with the phrase "back to my old self, again". He is 23. He has, in fact, unveiled a new self. With Sasa Papac a model of consistency at left-back, Smith is the latest - and last - to audition for the apparently cursed role on the left side of Rangers' midfield. Whisper it, but heis the most convincing yet. "A lot of players have played wide left this season and nobody has really held it down," he said. "I've played there before for the reserves and for the first team when I first broke into the team under Alex McLeish. It's nothing new to me." Except it is, of course. Smith deserves his change of fortune. Lesser men would have given up by now. http://www.theherald.co.uk/sport/headlines/display.var.2504190.0.Heres_one_straight_out_of_left_field.php

Forgotten Rangers man Andrius Velicka sets himself a double target as he strikes out for final glory Andrius Velicka is very keen to make up for lost time. The Lithuanian striker is determined to play his part in an engrossing title run-in and fancies helping Rangers to not just their first league title win in four years, but to the Home-coming Scottish Cup as well. A place in the final will be assured if Rangers can see off the threat of St Mirren at Hampden tomorrow and, if they do so, tongues will start to wag about the possibility of a league and cup double. St Mirren, of course, will feel that their shot at glory is equally near at hand. Gus MacPherson's side have already seen off Celtic in the competition and view tomorrow's game as one of the biggest of their season. Staying in the top flight is their ultimate aim, but a Scottish Cup Final party wouldn't be too bad either. Velicka, though, is determined to use the final weeks of the season to show Rangers just what he is capable of after being placed in cold storage for most of the season to date. The striker returned to Walter Smith's side for the 1-0 win at Falkirk this month, but it was the first sighting of him since he had featured in a 2-0 win over Hearts way back in August. It has been a difficult time for the striker, who has admitted the past eight months have been the most frustrating of his senior career. "It was a natural reaction because I had played so much football without a break," he said ruefully. "It has been very difficult for me because I started in the team and then all of a sudden I was injured. "All the games caught up with me physically, but now I feel that I can be like a fresh player for the manager. I have had a lot of time to recover my fitness and I feel I am hungry now. "It would be nice to get the chance to show the Rangers fans what I can do in these last months of the season because I don't think they have seen the best of me yet. "I believe that I can score goals, but I have to respect that there have been players doing that all season, so I will be patient. I do want to have a say in the title race because I think I can help Rangers to win the SPL and the Scottish Cup. It will be a hard game for us at Hampden tomorrow, but we are looking forward it." He will be hoping to add to the two goals he has scored in recent wins over Motherwell and Hibs and, when the dust settles on tomorrow's contest, Velicka will turn his attention to the pivotal Old Firm game at Ibrox next month. The striker has yet to sample the unique fare offered by a meeting between the Glasgow giants and he couldn't ask for a bigger game in which to make his mark this term. Irrespective of what happens between now and then, the game at Ibrox is titanic in terms of its significance. For all that both sides have squandered advantages and thrown away chances to exert further pressure on their rivals this term, it would be difficult to envisage either side winning the game at Ibrox and then not lifting the title. Velicka had fallen so far out of the picture at Rangers that he was in danger of becoming the forgotten man but, should he make his mark in what is the biggest game of the season, redemption could be at hand. "Of course I want to play in it," grinned the Lithuanian. "I haven't played in an Old Firm game before and I know what a big game it is. "It is huge because of the league situation, but an Old Firm game by itself is known all over the world. I would love to play a part in it, but this is football and things do not always go the way you want them to. "The manager has a big squad here and players like Kenny Miller and Kris Boyd have been doing it all season. "All I can do is show what I can do in training and in games and hope that I am involved when the game takes place. "But before then we have a game against St Mirren in the Scottish Cup and a league match against Hearts, so we have to think about them. "It would be silly to be thinking about Celtic just now when there are other things for us to do." Rangers have avoided a second trip to Tynecastle and will play Hearts at home in the first SPL game after the split. Critics who have pointed to the third home game against the Edinburgh side might want to consider the manner in which Csaba Laszlo's side came back from a two-goal deficit to take a point on their last visit to Ibrox. The games between either half of the Old Firm at Tynecastle are always fraught, although Velicka doesn't believe Rangers have an advantage by avoiding a trip to his former home ground. "Hearts will believe they can win against us," he said. "I enjoy playing against them because they are my old side, but that doesn't mean I don't want to beat them. "They have done very well under Csaba and he has them playing good football but, more importantly, they are a team that seem to have a lot of belief. "I don't think it is easier playing them at Ibrox than at Tynecastle because they are a difficult side to beat. "People look at Scottish football and think that Rangers should beat everybody they play, but it is not like that. You have to work very hard to win every game and every team can make life very hard for you. "Hearts will remember what happened when they played us the last time and they will take a lot of belief from that. We will need to be at our best but all that matters now is getting points." Publication date 24/04/09 http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2504069.0.0.php

Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist says his side need to combat the threat of St Mirren's Andy Dorman in Saturday's Homecoming Scottish Cup semi-final. More...

Gus MacPherson urges his St Mirren side to earn a Scottish Cup final place by beating Rangers at Hampden on Saturday. More...

I wouldn't rule out a Barry Ferguson comeback yet, warns Rangers coach Ally McCoist ALLY McCOIST last night insisted Barry Ferguson can still salvage a future for himself at Rangers. McCoist spoke out as the deposed Ibrox skipper was coming to terms with the calf injury that has almost certainly brought his own personal rollercoaster of a campaign to an end. But while it now seems sure that Ferguson will be shipped out of the club in the summer, McCoist insists he EXPECTS to see the 31-year-old back in a blue shirt again. Walter Smith's right-hand man turned up at Forthbank Stadium in Stirling on Tuesday moments after Ferguson had hobbled off, 60 secondsinto a reserve team clash with Hearts. If, as anticipated, that was his last appearance for Rangers then it will go down as a desperate and sad ending to the player's long-lasting love affair with the club. But even though Ferguson's relationship with Smith has broken down in the wake of the Boozegate scandal, McCoist remains adamant the midfielder will be back. He said: "I don't think for a minute that's been his last appearance in a Rangers shirt. "He has more than a year left on his contract and, that being the case, there is every chance he will play again. "Absolutely, he can come back next season. All he has is a calf injury. He has everything to get fit for with a year on the contract. "Unless something else happens, like he wishes to leave or a club comes in for him with an offer, then it is common sense he will be here next season. "That is the way it looks from where I am sitting. If that is the case then fantastic." Ferguson, in fact, has not given up hope of returning to action before the end of the season even though medics have said his injury will take six weeks to cure. McCoist also doubts the player's ability to heal in time and said: "I spoke with him very briefly after the game at Stirling. He has had his scan and there is definitely a tear in it. "He is thinking three weeks but I am thinking it may be longer than that - and no one had more calf tears than me. I hope that it is only three weeks for Barry." And McCoist has not ruled out a possible top-team return for Ferguson's Boozegate accomplice, Allan McGregor, in tomorrow's Scottish Cup semi-final clash with St Mirren. He said: "We have to move on. I wish I had a pound for every word that has been written over the past couple of weeks. "It is in the past now. Barry made a mistake, Allan made a mistake but let's move on. "McGregor will be considered and have a shout for selection - Barry would have too. You pick teams to win games." Apr 24 2009 Keith Jackson http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/rangers/2009/04/24/i-wouldn-t-rule-out-a-barry-ferguson-comeback-yet-warns-rangers-coach-ally-mccoist-86908-21302577/

WALTER SMITH today revealed he will have a healthy choice of fit Rangers stars as they prepare to surge for a domestic double. The Ibrox gaffer has been deprived of several key personnel for weeks - but is about to get most of them back for the run-in. DaMarcus Beasley, Kirk Broadfoot, Kyle Lafferty and Lee McCulloch could all be available for the SPL showdown with Hearts at Ibrox on May 3. And Smith, whose team take on St Mirren in the semi-final of the Homecoming Scottish Cup at Hampden tomorrow, has also revealed he is grateful for some SPL respite. He said: "I think it is good to have a cup game at this time. If anything, the two-week break from league action will help us to get quite a few of our players back. "If we are looking at Kirk, Lee, Kyle and DaMarcus, we could have them all back in a couple of weeks. "It has not been a bad thing at all having a break for the semi-final. It gives us that little bit of respite." But Barry Ferguson is facing a huge battle to be fit to play again this season. The deposed skipper injured his calf in a reserve game during the week after three weeks sidelined due to disciplinary action. He hopes to be back by the middle of May, but Smith revealed: "Unfortunately, with the injury he picked up, he will be out for the majority of the rest of the season." Smith will soon have big selection headaches as the fringe players who have been drafted in as cover in recent weeks have performed well. He said: "Boys like Andrius Velicka, Mo Edu and Steven Smith have come in and have now got some games under their belt. You can see in every game that they are improving and getting there. "Their overall match fitness has improved and that has added to the options." But Smith reckons he needs that competition for places in his team, who currently sit just one point behind Celtic with five games left to play. He added: "There has been a couple of stages this season when it looked as if the title was a little bit beyond us. "We then found ourselves in front and Celtic pegged us back. "Going into the last five games, especially the one against Celtic at home, we consider ourselves to be in a decent position if we can produce the required consistency." Meanwhile, Rangers have insisted talks are ongoing with Kirk Broadfoot over an extension to his contract that ends in 12 months time. Publication date 24/04/09 http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2504072.0.0.php

Team news ahead of Saturday's Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden. More...

By Andrew Dickson IF there's one man determined to shine in tomorrow's Scottish Cup semi-final with St Mirren, it is Rangers defender Stevie Smith. Brought in from the cold two weeks ago against Motherwell, the 23-year-old has made the most of his unexpected chance in the side with two good performances. Steven Smith trains with Steven Davis and Steven WhittakerSmith has endured a torrid time, spending the best part of two years on the sidelines with pelvic problems then finding himself well out of the first-team picture at Ibrox. But now that he's back in contention again, he doesn't plan to hold back and is eager to claim a long-term place in the side. Although he's a natural full-back, Smith has featured on the left side of midfield and is likely to be deployed there once more against the Buddies at Hampden. He said: "I'm really looking forward to this match. It's a cup semi-final and it's always a massive challenge to get to a final. "From a personal point of view, I never thought I would get a chance to play for Rangers again but I have and I'm thankful for that. "I'm enjoying being back in the team again and if I want to stay here, I have to look upon each chance to play as an opportunity to stake my claim for a long-term place. "I need to play out of my skin, try to stay involved as much as possible and use the situation as it stands to my advantage." Stevie SmithSmith knows St Mirren will be difficult opponents, especially after they beat Celtic 1-0 at Greenhill Road in the last round of the competition. Rangers will go into the game without several players, including Kyle Lafferty, Kirk Broadfoot, Lee McCulloch, Barry Ferguson, Kevin Thomson and DaMarcus Beasley. Those six are all injured while Sasa Papac is suspended and Smith appreciates Saints will be keen to exploit the men from Govan. He added: "I was at our game with them a few weeks ago and while we did well in the first half, they showed a lot of determination in the second. "They came back into the game and impressed me. I saw some of their game last week against Motherwell too and they'll be confident. "Playing at Hampden might be a new thing to their players but that might give them a boost at the same time."

Hampden Park always was Lorenzo’s soil. Big Amoruso never once lost a match with Rangers on the hallowed Mount Florida turf. Anyone who remembers his emotional swansong at the national stadium would have thought otherwise, however, as the Italian stallion wept openly in front of the assembled legions of Rangers fans. That emotional outpouring came after Amoruso’s winning header secured the 2003 Scottish Cup Final against Dundee, bringing down the curtain on an eventful six-year spell at Rangers. The biggest low of that time came when he was deposed as captain by a 22-year-old called Barry Ferguson. Almost a decade on, Ferguson has suffered the same fate. The former Scotland skipper’s ‘Boozegate’ antics alongside goalkeeper Allan McGregor have all but ended his Rangers career, with a torn calf muscle sustained in a reserve match on Tuesday ensuring there will be little opportunity for a spectacular return to favour. Unlike his disgraced successor, however, Amoruso at least had the chance to bid a dignified goodbye to the Ibrox denizens. And the 37-year-old agreed that may be a situation which comes back to haunt Ferguson in later life. ‘You don’t want to finish with Rangers in that situation,’ he said. ‘My last game was special, against Dundee at Hampden in 2003. We secured the Treble — the second of my Rangers career. It was the best way to finish my Rangers career. I went out on a high. ‘There are always consequences to your actions and Barry is old enough to understand that. He is the captain of a big club and the captain of his country. He needed to be an example as a player — and also as a human being. ‘It was a totally different situation when I lost the armband but it will definitely hurt Barry. Just because they take your armband away, it doesn’t mean you stop feeling like a captain. You will still dream, walk, talk and act like a captain, but you are not one any more. ‘You never used to be able to think of Rangers without Barry Ferguson but they have been without him for a few weeks now.’ Amoruso is back in town to promote Sky Sports’ live coverage of his old team’s Scottish Cup semi-final against St Mirren tomorrow and, unsurprisingly, he revealed that he often endured a fraught relationship with the man who inherited his captaincy. The big Italian, however, will seek out Ferguson this weekend to offer him support in his hour of need. ‘I have a lot of good memories of Barry,’ he said. ‘We definitely had a few arguments because he is a strong character and so am I. He has the kind of spirit you need in the dressing room. It’s all part of being a good team and being a winner. ‘On the pitch, he was a great player. I remember he was fantastic against Paris Saint-Germain in France and also against Celtic on several occasions. ‘After the whole (Boozegate) thing broke, I tried to give Barry a phone but he had changed his number. I didn’t want to phone someone else up to ask for his number so I will make sure I see him myself this weekend. Barry has my full support. I know he made a mistake but I’m sure he would love a second chance. It would be terrific if he stayed but he will have to sit down at the end of the season with the chairman and manager and take it from there.’ Amoruso believes that Rangers’ hopes of stopping city rivals Celtic racking up four titles in a row will diminish if St Mirren knock them out of the Scottish Cup tomorrow. And that is a possibility, he believes, if Walter Smith’s men turn up devoid of a professional mindset. Ferguson limps off in possibly his last game for Rangers Sad ending: Ferguson limps off in possibly his last game for Rangers ‘It’s important that Rangers treat St Mirren with the respect they deserve,’ he said. ‘They have to go to this game with a good attitude. ‘I haven’t seen a lot of St Mirren this year but I know they knocked Celtic out in the quarter-finals — so they must be a good side. ‘Their league position is not great but they are clearly capable of fighting for the cause and they shouldn’t be underestimated. ‘And if Rangers lose, it could be a massive problem for them. But hopefully they will win and then also go on to catch Celtic in the SPL. The league is not over yet — there are still five games to go.’ * Amoruso will be a studio guest for live, high definition coverage of Rangers v St Mirren from 12pm this Saturday on Sky Sports HD1/Sky Sports 1. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1173040/Lorenzo-It-pity-Fergusons-time-Rangers-end-like-this.html

St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson says there have been no offers for in-form midfielder Andy Dorman. More...

Barry Ferguson is likely to miss Rangers' next two games at the very least, but it remains unclear whether he will play again this season. The deposed captain suffered a calf injury less than two minutes into Tuesday's reserve draw with Hearts at Stirling Albion's Forthbank Stadium and was forced to leave the field. It was the midfielder's first outing since he and goalkeeper Allan McGregor returned from the two-week suspensions imposed upon them for flicking V-signs at photographers days after indulging in a drinking session while on Scotland duty. Their antics also saw them banned for life from representing their country. McGregor was also playing yesterday when Ferguson appeared to hurt himself as he went to make a block tackle on Jambos' winger David Templeton. He left the ground with strapping around the injury and reserve-team coach Tommy Wilson anticipates he will definitely miss Saturday's Homecoming Scottish Cup semi-final against St Mirren and the following weekend's Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Hearts. Wilson told the Light Blues' official website, http://www.rangers.co.uk: "Barry just felt his calf pop. "He was really up for the game so I was really disappointed when he had to come off. "He was desperate to get back to action and has played for me a couple of times in the reserves this season when he was coming back from his ankle injury. "The doctor has examined him and strapped him up and I think he may have torn a couple of fibres in his calf muscle. "However long that keeps him out for I'm not sure, but I wouldn't imagine he'll be fit for this weekend or the week after."

by Lindsay Herron KENNY MILLER has revealed he may need some work in the summer to cure a hamstring problem but he is committed to the cause for the run-in. The Scotland striker had been out for over a month when he returned as a substitute in last Sunday's 3-2 win at Easter Road. Kenny Miller, Rangers celebrates his second goalNow he is ready to play on until the end of a campaign he hopes results in Rangers clinching a League and Cup Double. He told Rangers World: "I felt a lot better last Sunday and in training. I have been taking some medication that the doctor has given me and it seems to be working. "It's going to get me through to the end of the season but at that point we need to try to find a permanent solution. "I'm hopeful that the treatment I am getting at the moment will mean I can continue to train and play and be involved in the run-in. "Then in the summer I will get to the bottom of it." Miller is in the running for a slot in Saturday's lunchtime Homecoming Scottish Cup semi-final against St Mirren and he insists Rangers are hungry for success. He said: "It's a massive one. Losing in the Co-operative Insurance final was a big blow for us so the next thing you set your sights on is the League and Scottish Cup Double. "We have a good chance of doing that and St Mirren are standing in our way. "Any semi-final is tough but if we apply ourselves and play the way we can I'm sure we can get through. "Any time you play at Hampden it's something special whether it's with Rangers in a semi-final or final or with Scotland.Kenny Miller "It's a special place to play. You always dream about playing there. "They have done well. They have some really good players and they caused us a few problems a couple of weeks ago. "I'm sure they will think their name is on the Cup if they beat us having already beaten Celtic but we want to make sure that doesn't happen. "However, it we play to our capabilities we should have enough."

ANDY DORMAN has shot to the top of Walter Smith's summer shopping list. The Rangers manager watched the St Mirren star score a cracker against Hibs last week. Now the Ibrox club will make a �£700,000 bid for Scotland's top-scoring midfielder, who netted his 11th goal of the season against Motherwell yesterday. Dorman has a year left on his Buddies deal and is free to sign a pre-contract in six months' time. Gus MacPherson would love to keep his star player, but it's unlikely he will be able to persuade Dorman to sign a new long-term deal. And Smith wants Rangers to land him as a midfield foil for Pedro Mendes. With Barry Ferguson set to quit Ibrox, the Gers boss believes that Chester-born Dorman's energy and ability could prove invaluable. He watched Dorman in action along with No 2 Ally McCoist and coach Kenny McDowall at St Mirren Park on Monday night. A Rangers insider said: "The coaching staff have all been hugely impressed by Dorman all season. "They had a good look at him on Monday against Hibs and it certainly wasn't just his goal which caught the manager's eye." http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/scottish/scottish_sport/270891/Rangers-eye-up-Dorman-Andy-Dorman.html

KYLE LAFFERTY has vowed to fire Rangers to the SPL title after declaring himself fit for the run-in. The 21-year-old hitman has handed Gers a massive boost by revealing he is close to a top-team return. Lafferty suffered ankle ligament damage in the draw with Hearts last month and it was feared his season was over. But after battling back, the Ulsterman has set his sights on Celtic and the Old Firm title crunch at Ibrox on May 9. Lafferty said: ââ?¬Å?The injury is getting better all the time. In fact I am ahead of schedule. Iââ?¬â?¢ve already done a bit of ball work and a bit of running this week. Iââ?¬â?¢m getting there. ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢m looking at the first game after the split. I have my hopes riding on that. ââ?¬Å?But if not that game then definitely the Old Firm game a week later. ââ?¬Å?Thatââ?¬â?¢s the one I desperately want to be involved in. ââ?¬Å?There is still so much to play for and Iââ?¬â?¢m bursting to get back. Iââ?¬â?¢m desperate to be involved in the title run-in and a potential Scottish Cup Final. Iââ?¬â?¢ve already had the heartache of a cup final defeat to Celtic, so I think all the lads are more determined to get to this final and win it. ââ?¬Å?But we have St Mirren first and we also have five massive matches in the league. ââ?¬Å?The championship is the one we all want.ââ?¬Â Laffertyââ?¬â?¢s debut season in Scotland has been plagued by injury problems. His latest set-back came just when it seemed he had finally found his feet. Itââ?¬â?¢s been a frustrating, sometimes depressing, ten months. But the Ã?£3.25million summer buy from Burnley is confident he will have the last Laff. He said: ââ?¬Å?When this latest injury happened people were talking about my season being over. That worried me a bit. ââ?¬Å?But the results of my scan were far more positive and Iââ?¬â?¢ve got my head down in training. ââ?¬Å?It was frustrating to pick up another injury. My studs got caught in the turf as I tried to turn, but it could have been a lot worse. ââ?¬Å?I was due some luck because Iââ?¬â?¢ve not had a lot where injuries have been concerned this season. ââ?¬Å?First of all it was my back, then I had a few niggles and now this one to my ankle. ââ?¬Å?I keep on saying ââ?¬Ë?I hope thatââ?¬â?¢s itââ?¬â?¢, but I keep on getting cursed. Hopefully that will be it this time. ââ?¬Å?Itââ?¬â?¢s been frustrating because I felt I was doing well. The gaffer had given me my chance up front and the goals were coming. ââ?¬Å?But I only lasted three or four games then I picked up this latest injury. Hopefully I can get back and play my part in the run-in.ââ?¬Â http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/article2388648.ece

RANGERS will have three home fixtures after the split but the SPL will not announce the full list until after the clash with Hibs at Easter Road. Hibs have clinched their place in the top six without kicking a ball as Motherwell crashed 2-0 at home to St Mirren yesterday. They were one point ahead of Mark McGhee's team and the victory for Gus Macpherson's side consigns Well to the bottom six and therfore no chance of European football. So in the remaining five matches Rangers will face Aberdeen, Celtic, Dundee United, Hearts and Hibs. The Old Firm game has already been scheduled for May 9 but it remains to be seen when and where Rangers will play the other sides. The SPL has to endeavour to make sure that each of the 12 sides in the division play 19 home games and they have confirmed that Rangers will have three post-split home matches.

Had a weak game against Hibs I felt. The only reason I could see for him not getting pulled for Miller instead of Velicka is he's usually good to nick a goal. Not solely his fault. The mdifield, Edu aside, were overall pretty poor again and created little. We didn;t get down Hibs flanks enough and get balls for him to attack. There was one good ball in sometime in the second half but he didn't get a good contact. I don't think it was due a lack of trying but little came off for either forward til Velicka's goal which I thought was a cracker. With Velicka coming in from the cold and Miller getting back to fitness Boyd could be going off the boil at just the wrong time again. 1 bad game after 3 good one's though, we can forgive him that. However assuming he gets the nod against St Mirren he'll need a good team performance as well as a goal to have a realistic chance of the final Old Firm game. Would feel for the big man if he was to miss out again. I think a goal in a big Old Firm game could finally convince all the doubters. But after all his hard work post boozegate he picked a bad week to have a quiet game. Even on form Smith isn't convinced with him for these games so Sunday's performance will likely have big bearing on the manager's tactical decision's. Hopefully it was a one off and we'll see the Boyd of recent weeks in the semi-final.

We all should have more than a passing interest in this game today. An hour in and the game is still goalless. Hopefully it remains this way or that St Mirren get a goal as that would virtually guarantee Hibs make the top 6. Having said that, a draw would be better IMO as Hibs need to then avoid a heavy defeat. If we go a goal or two up they would settle for losing 2-0 and we would settle for a 2-0 win. If Saints score Hibs are guaranteed the top 6 spot so would have nothing to lose by going at us. And the pressure would be off which often means teams play better.

Motherwell entertain St Mirren as the Steelmen continue their battle to secure their top six place ahead of the SPL split. More...

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.

By Andrew Dickson SASA PAPAC and Kenny Miller are hopeful of returning to the Rangers squad for Sunday's trip to face Hibernian at Easter Road. Sasa Papac and Willo FloodBosnian defender Papac missed last weekend's 3-1 win over Motherwell with a gash in his foot, an injury sustained against St Mirren on April 8. He trained normally at Murray Park this morning and looks likely to be passed fit to feature in the capital. Whether he comes straight back into the squad is another matter, however, as Steven Whittaker did well in his left-back position against the Steelmen. One option could be to move Whittaker onto the left side of midfield against his old club but it appears Steven Smith has done enough to retain his place in the team. The 23-year-old made his first appearance in 51 weeks last Saturday and showed plenty of good touches - if a little rustiness too - in his 73-minute outing. Smith was deployed in the same position against Aberdeen's reserves in midweek and scored a penalty in a 2-1 win at Auchenhowie. That impressed manager Walter Smith and it is understood he'll stay involved in the capital. Stevie SmithMiller has not played since Scotland's 3-0 defeat in Holland last month and his last Gers appearance was two weeks before that in the League Cup final. He has seen a specialist about the hamstring problem which has been hindering him lately and he has reached a point where he could be ready to play once more. That comes as good news to boss Smith as he looks for competition to fit strikers Kris Boyd, Nacho Novo and Andrius Velicka. Kirk Broadfoot, Lee McCulloch, DaMarcus Beasley, Kyle Lafferty and Kevin Thomson are all out for the crucial clash with the Hibees. But former captain Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor are available for selection again after their two-week suspensions from the club ended. The pair returned to training today but are lacking match sharpness so it seems the best they can hope for are places on the bench.

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/