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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.........

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.

RANGERS' injury list is showing no signs of clearing just yet - but a host of stars could be back in action by the time the SPL split begins on May 2. Sasa Papac is the only player of the seven currently sidelined with various ailments who might feature at Hibernian on Sunday. The Bosnian defender is now walking normally again having received stitches in his foot after he had to limp off during the first half of last Wednesday's 2-1 win at St Mirren. He faces a race against time to prove his fitness before kick off at Easter Road but the Light Blues management are hopeful he'll be given the green light to return there. DaMarcus Beasley is more likely to be available again for the Scottish Cup semi-final with St Mirren a week on Saturday and he is out of the trip to Edinburgh. The American is still struggling after sustaining a blow to his ribs in Paisley but he could be cleared to return for the forthcoming rematch with Gus MacPherson's side. Lee McCulloch is another who might play in that game after it emerged his calf problem is not as bad as was first feared. The former Wigan star is making good progress and since coming off in the latter stages of the 1-0 win at Falkirk nine days ago, he has made a notable improvement. Kirk BroadfootKyle Lafferty, who is not yet back in full training despite newspaper reports claiming he is, may play again as early as the home clash with Celtic on May 9. Much depends on how he does when he starts running again but it is hoped he will be able to play some part in the title run-in. As yet, however, there is no timescale being given for when Kenny Miller and Kirk Broadfoot can be expected to come back. Of course, Kevin Thomson will definitely miss the rest of term as he continues his rehabilitation from a knee injury and he'll be back in action after the summer. But the news a number of other players aren't far from being fit again is a further boost for Rangers manager Walter Smith after his patched-up squad won three times last week.

Take a seat. Have some herbal tea and get a defibrillator close to hand. What you are about to read may cause dizziness, disorientation and even nausea. Are you ready? Let's begin. Kris Boyd should be player of the year. Yes, you did just read that. For the purposes of clarity, let's repeat. Kris Boyd should be player of the year. It has been one of the mysteries of Scottish football that the greatest poacher of his time has never made the shortlist for the award, be it from his peers at PFA Scotland, or his torturers and cheerleaders in the Scottish Football Writers' Association. There is more chance of Gary Lineker winning the Golf Writers' Oratory Award for his Masters coverage than there is of Boyd standing on a lectern getting all Gwyneth Paltrow on us. There is more chance of the Scottish FA winning the Nobel Peace Prize for international diplomacy than there is of Boyd posing with a silver salver on one hand and flicking a fly vicky at the cameras with the other. There is more chance of Csaba Laszlo cutting down his acceptance speech to twice the length of Andy Cameron's after-dinner turn than there is of poor, persecuted Boydy opening his heart to The Sun on why being named player of the year vindicated his decision to say no to Burley and sulk and gurn at Walter. Well, maybe that's stretching it a bit. advertisement The point is this: in a season hardly oversubscribed with stand-out performers, or even above average ones, it is a travesty that Mon Mome had shorter odds to win the Grand National than Rangers' habitual larcenist has of scooting off with a slab of personal distinction. Boyd has a greater case than those currently in the reckoning. Gary Caldwell is the favourite but was given the runaround by Bruno Aguiar at Tynecastle on Saturday afternoon in midfield and, for all his smart passing and versatility, has been partly responsible for Celtic's inability to defend cross balls. Scott Brown? The award surely cannot go to a midfielder who has yet to perfect the art of the forward pass. If it does, it will be for sheer energy and hyperactivity alone. Timmy Mallet will fancy his chances next season. Pedro Mendes? The myths surrounding the Portuguese have been exposed in recent weeks. Elegant and occasionally brilliant, the reason he found himself at Portsmouth was his average of one influential game every three or four. Steven Davis? A wide player is expected to get to the byeline and deliver a series of inviting crosses. It is not his natural position but the remit remains the same. He would have had a stronger case if he played centrally, but can the player of the year be awarded to a guy not regarded as good enough for his preferred position? Which brings us to the case for the attack. Boyd has scored 28 goals for Rangers, with six league games and one, possibly two, Homecoming Scottish Cup games still to play. He will finish the season with more than 30 but it is the background story that makes his claim so compelling. Richard Gough once claimed that Andy Goram regularly saved Rangers 15 points a season; Boyd has gathered 18 of the title challengers' 70 points. His goals have been the difference between Rangers winning or losing, such as his brace in a 2-1 win against Kilmarnock in September, and winners against Hibernian and Falkirk; winning or drawing, such as his two in a 3-1 win away to Hamilton or his recent exploits against St Mirren and Motherwell; and drawing or losing, his goal against Dundee United at Tannadice, for example. Boyd, to put it charitably, is not one of life's natural athletes. His limitations have been highlighted often enough in this column, to his occasional dissatisfaction, but at times his deficiencies detract from his exceptional, unteachable knack of scoring goals. His first against Motherwell on Saturday was a moment of sheer instinctive beauty, lashing the ball contemptuously beyond Graeme Smith. There have been other such instances, not least the Van Bastenesque volley (with his left foot) against Partick Thistle in the Co-operative Insurance Cup. Those who have questioned his professionalism, myself among them, should at least give credit to Boyd for the 10 goals scored since the turn of the year. That is the ultimate act of professionalism for a player whom Rangers were eager to sell to Birmingham City for �£3m in the January window. He rejected the chance, partly because of the personal terms on offer - roughly a third more than he earns at Ibrox - but largely because he is a home-bird who waited long enough to win a move to Rangers. He could have downed tools after Sir David Murray did everything to facilitate the deal short of writing a cheque as he did for Alan Hutton. Instead, he resumed normal business. Had he been at his peak in the 1990s, there would be no mention of his lack of athleticism or his inability to hold the ball, just awe at the relentlessness of his output. Life is not about to get any easier for him at Rangers in the summer, which is why we all could be witnessing the last acts of Boyd in Scotland. He should be celebrated and acknowledged as one of the best goalscorers to have emerged of any era. Odds are he won't. http://www.theherald.co.uk/sport/headlines/display.var.2501505.0.Darryl_Broadfoot_on_Monday.php

St Mirren welcome Hibernian to their new stadium for Easter Monday's intriguing Scottish Premier League clash. More...

by Lindsay Herron KENNY MILLER will travel to London next week to seek specialist help to clear an aggravating hamstring problem. The Rangers striker has been troubled with the problem for some time now and it reached a stage last week where he could not continue playing and he missed out on the Falkirk game on Sunday. Two intense international matches probably did not help his case and it looks as though he could be missing for at least another two weeks. He is ruled out of tomorrow's game with St Mirren and will also sit out Saturday's home meeting with Motherwell. Lee McCullochBoss Walter Smith said today: "Kenny will go down to London next week to see a specialist and hopefully we can get to the bottom of the problem. "It's been an awkward one for him. He had been able to play but it got to the stage where it became more and more painful. "Hopefully once we get things diagnosed and be begins his treatment he won't be out for too long." Lee McCulloch and Kirk Broadfoot will also miss the St Mirren game and seem unlikely to be ready for Motherwell at the weekend. However, McCulloch, who has a calf problem, could be available for the trip to Easter Road on April 19. Maurice Edu has been lined up to come in to central midfield.

Team news ahead of Monday's Scottish Premier League match at St Mirren Park. More...

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

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:(

http://www.gersnetonline.co.uk/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=784&Itemid=1 Steven Whittaker for me...

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

MAURICE EDU insists he is not going to be Barry Ferguson's replacement when he runs out to face St Mirren in Paisley tomorrow night. Edu will be given Ferguson's central midfield slot beside Pedro Mendes for the match at Saints' new stadium but he believes he will bring his own style as Rangers chase three vital Championship points. Lee McCulloch got the job at Falkirk last Sunday following Ferguson's two-week suspension but a recurring calf injury looks like side-lining him for a week at least. Now American international Edu will get his shot and he hopes to take it with both hands. He said: "Barry is a great player and he brings a lot to the team. He has proven over the time he has been here that he is a great player. "I'm still early in my career and the great thing is that I have been able to train with guys like him and Pedro and I have learned a lot. "Hopefully I can come in and do the job. I feel confident and I'm sure my team mates will help me along the way. "It's not a matter of me replacing him it's a matter of me coming in and playing my part and being the player I can be. "I have been training hard every day and trying to keep my fitness up whether it is in reserve games or during training. "So when your chance comes you have to hope that you are ready for it and you just seize it. "It's unfortunate that Lee took that injury but it gave me an opportunity. We didn't produce the best performance at Falkirk but we fought hard and got the three points and that was the most important thing. Now we want to do the same against St Mirren." With Kenny Miller, Kirk Broadfoot and Kyle Lafferty also missing there are opportunities for other players to who what they can do. Edu added: "It's a chance for guys who haven't been playing much to come in and do well and help the team out in their time of need and then try to keep the spot down "I have been waiting in the wings and had a couple of games here and there and now there is a chance for me to come in. "Ultimately we still want to win the league so that's what we are trying to do. "I think mental strength is a huge factor for us right now because of what has happened and the way the season has gone. "You could put your head done and say 'Oh well' but no-one in our locker room has that attitude. They are all winners. "Every game between now and the end of the season is going to be a battle but the only focus for us to collect maximum points." http://www.rangers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,5~1615739,00.html Part of me almost believed Dailly would get the nod..

St Mirren goalkeeper Mark Howard has agreed a new two-year deal with the Paisley club. More...

Have 6 tickets for St Mirren for sale if anyone is interested (PM me!) Cammy F

St Mirren goalkeeper Chris Smith is out for up to a year after suffered damage to his cruciate ligament. More...

Starting with the Scottish cup last week which threw up a couple of surprises. St Mirren beat Celtic 1-0 with a Billy Mehmet penalty. Mehmet deposited the ball in the right bottom hand corner with Artur Boruc diving the wrong way. Celtic would have been better putting Shunsuke Nakamura in the goal as he seems to always to dive the right way and with more success. Up at Pittodrie, Aberdeen lost 2-4 in a penalty shootout against Dunfermline. I guess the Aberdeen penalties were below pars. Losing on penalties must have been about the same feeling for the sheep shaggers, as getting a knock-back from Dolly the cloned sheep. On the Aberdeen websites the supporters were calling for Jimmy Calderwood to be sacked. Many names were mentioned as his successor. Terry Butcher who is doing well just up the road at Inverness has been ruled out by the supporters. The last thing the sheep shaggers want in the area is a Butcher. Many rumours were going round of Barry Ferguson moving to Newcastle. Due to Barry always seeming to play with an injury if I were the Newcastle board i would be thinking more about signing Celtics Scott Brown. Reading in the press Newcastle�s Ferguson injured or Newcastle Brown ails, i know what one i would want. I was reading in the paper that the Manchester police could find no cctv film of a Ranger�s supporter getting a beating by a policeman, even although they could pick out 49 so called Ranger�s hooligans. Well no surprise there then, you can never find the bloody polis when you need them. Hearts pulled back from a 2-0 deficit to draw 2-2 against Ranger�s even although they were without one of there best young players Andy Driver. Just goes to show losing a driver doesn�t always cause a crash. Walter smith has a biography written for him called Silversmith. The name is a play with words for the trophy�s he has won and also the silver colour of his hair. Many supporters would suggest that given some of the donkey�s he has bought over the years he should die his hair Black. This may be a bit unfair to all the donkey�s of the world because they at least turn up for derbies. With Walter taking a lot of Flack at the moment, discussions have been brought up again about Paul le Guen. Le Guen brought in Papac, Sebo and Sionko from Austria Wien. On hindsight he would have been better signing Joseph Fritzel at least we would have got someone from Austria who was guaranteed to score.(sorry) TAXI!!!!!

By Andrew Dickson KYLE LAFFERTY has been told his season isn't necessarily over after a scan at a Glasgow hospital this afternoon. Kyle Lafferty celebrates scoring against HeartsThe Rangers striker initially feared his campaign was finished after he was carried off in the first half of the 2-2 draw with Hearts on Saturday with damaged ankle ligaments. But a second examination has revealed no further damage and that means the lay-off of at least six weeks he was initially told to expect yesterday stands. The 21-year-old has what has been described as a 'significant injury' and it is severely limiting his movement at present. But at this stage, Lafferty remains scheduled to return to action in early May rather than at a later date and he could yet play a part in the title run-in. If Gers get past St Mirren in the last four of the Scottish Cup next month, he will also have a final date with Falkirk or Dunfermline on May 30 to aim for. Should Lafferty play any further part between now and the summer, it will come as a massive boost to Walter Smith after he feared he had lost the striker until next term.

Andy Dorman is the Clydesdale Bank Premier League player of the month for February after impressing for St Mirren. More...

There are many angry bears out there and rationality seems to be in short supply. Not many are really analysing the situation and when frustrated attempts are made, they seemed to be blocked time and again by rhetorical myths that, with even a quick level headed scrutiny, do not stand up. Examples are: 1. Celtic are much better than us. 2. Celtic are shitest they've ever been and so are we. 3. Celtic are there for the taking. 1. The first that Celtic are much better than us does not stand up to the evidence. If you look at last season and this, there has been not much more than a baw hair between the teams. There is no team double figures ahead of the other or winning all the OF games. Rangers were certainly better than Celtic for most of last season winning both cups and being well ahead in the title race, but could not cope with with end of season fixture pileup including a dogily postponed Celtic game which many would would agree would have likely have been won by Rangers on its original date. The OF games were in fact pretty evenly contested. That doesn't sound like they are miles ahead to me. Both teams did well in Europe and so no obvious winner there. This season they've had plenty of lucky decisions and with one more slip up by us, we're 3 points behind but have them to play at Ibrox. Both teams got to the final of the league cup which Celtic narrowly one in extra time, and only Rangers are still in the Scottish Cup. The OF games have been pretty evenly contested again with only Rangers scoring a convincing win. Both teams were exceptionally poor in Europe. The obvious cold conclusion there is that Celtic are ever so slightly ahead of Rangers, but not much. So in the last two seasons where the trophy count is 2 each, there is no evidence that Celtic are much better than Rangers. Both teams seem pretty even with who wins coming down to the same likelihood as the toss of a coin. Unfortunately last year, the coin came down on their side for the SPL, and for us in the cups. This year it's gone for them in the League Cup, probably us in the Scottish Cup and the SPL coin is still spinning in the air and could land either side. 2. The shitest Rangers and Celtic teams have regularly finished 4th and 5th in the league, us pre-Souness and them during the NIAR years. There's plenty of sites that will show those embarrassing tables for both teams. Even poor OF teams have been miles behind their rivals and had to battle for 2nd place in the league, sometimes losing - Eck and PLG are recent examples there. This season, neither team have had any danger of being caught by the rest of the league so objectively how can they be poor teams in the closed context of our league? They may not be going for the record levels of points that may have been achieved in the past, but there are plenty of seasons throughout the history of the Scottish league where the OF have not been so far ahead. 3. One of the biggest self answering questions is asking why we can't take Celtic when they look so bad - and we just seem to be just as bad. The fact is, they are only there for the taking by a superior team and at the moment, as has been mentioned, we are pretty much at the same level. Is it so surprising that should be so? That the OF, in the same league, with similar avenues of income and raw talent, are pretty even? Celtic have always been there for the taking by a better team, but if you are the other half of a duopoly then without exceptional circumstances they won't be easy to beat. Saying St Mirren beat them so they are crap is schoolboy thinking. The best teams lose to the smaller one's often - especially in the cups, and if it wasn't so, then football would not have the following it does. I point again to the fact that both the Old firm are streets ahead of the other SPL teams, so having the odd defeat does not change their status. I think when you analyse it all the conclusions are pretty simple. Neither of the OLD firm are as weak compared to other Scottish team as they have been, nor are they as far ahead as they have been. Both teams are about as even as they have been in their history with the metaphorical pendulum, swinging not far from the centre. They still dominate the league but the difference is less than in their recent hay-days. They are getting B+'s instead of A+'s but are still easily passing muster with no danger of another team splitting them or indeed winning the league. The answer to why the teams are not gaining high 90's for final points is simple in that the teams are closer. Are the other SPL teams getting better? Probably not although young talent is a tad better than it has been. Are the OF employing lesser players - definitely, it couldn't be any other way. When Souness came along we were signing the best players in Britain, way ahead of Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. If we did so again we'd be in aiming for 100 points and above, but it's impossible for us now. During NIAR we were signing the likes of Boli, Laudrup, Gascoigne, Hateley, McCall, Gough, Goram, Amorusso, Porini, Albertz etc. Our players were streets ahead of the opposition and we were a match for any English team. During Advocaat's spell we were way overspending to compete in Europe and competed for players with the top end of the Premiership. Even in Ecks downsizing we inherited the likes of De Boer and Mols and signed Arteta for 6M and Barry for 5M, so were competing for players with middling English Prem teams while Celtic were competing with the top half of the table. Now with Premiership teams getting a minimum of 50M from TV and charging twice as much for us for seats and advertising we have no chance of competing for the best players in Britain and Europe. We're now competing for players with Championship teams who are starting to outspend us. Walter may have spent some money but it's peanuts in todays terms. 3M is like 750k during Advocaat. We're reduced to buying from Championship teams and a lot more cherry picking from the SPL than we used to. Yes the standard is lower but that's because both OF clubs have had to move down two or three tiers of players. So of course the football is not so good, of course the SPL teams are closer. We might be spending much more than them but the money is for players who are less of a standard above your bog standard professional. Until the financial climate changes, we have no option but to accept this, it's now as ever, doing better than our rivals who are in the same environment. Comparing us to the Premiership - which Scots seem to watch far too much of, just gives false expectations. Like many are saying, we have to wake up and smell the cheap coffee.

By Ron Scott Ibrox defender Madjid Bougherra.MADJID BOUGHERRA (right) has been ruled out of today�s Co-operative Insurance Cup Final against Celtic at Hampden. That was the sensational news from the Rangers camp last night. It�s a crushing blow for the Ibrox club as the big French-Algerian defender has been their most consistent player all season. He has struggled all week with a calf injury picked up in last Sunday�s Homecoming Scottish Cup tie against Hamilton Accies, and has failed to recover in time to play today. Major headache Bougherra�s absence leaves Rangers manager Walter Smith with a major headache over who to pair in central defence with Davie Weir. Kirk Broadfoot is the obvious choice, but his fitness is not guaranteed either. He has missed the last couple of games with a foot injury. The former St Mirren centre-half will be given every chance to make it, but much will depend on whether he suffers a reaction from yesterday�s training session. If Broadfoot is ruled out, too, Smith�s choice is a straight one between Lee McCulloch and Christian Dailly. McCulloch has this season been converted into a defensive midfielder, and he also partnered Weir in central defence for a few games towards the end of last year. Decision Meanwhile, Dailly�s last start for Rangers was back in September. Smith has also to decide whether to use leading scorer Kris Boyd. With Kyle Lafferty favourite to start alongside Kenny Miller, Boyd�s best bet will be a place on the bench, but even that is not guaranteed with Nacho Novo fit again. Celtic have no last-minute injury scares, with manager Gordon Strachan�s only dilemma being who to pair upfront with Scott McDonald. The choice lies between Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink or Georgios Samaras. Although Samaras has 14 goals to his credit, don�t be surprised if the Dutchman starts. Strachan may also opt for the experience of Paul Hartley in midfield ahead of young Spaniard Marc Crosas. http://www.thesundaypost.co.uk/postindex.htm

A day that will life long in my memory not only due to this being my first ever Old Firm Cup Final but due to the dramatic nature of our eventual victory. I had been lucky enough to have seen Rangers win this trophy previously (against DUFC in 1982) and was due to go to the final in 1983 which would have been my first OF final. Thankfully (sic) I was taken unwell and was in hospital with a bout of appendicitis and missed our 2-1 defeat at the hands of our bitter rivals. The League Cup has been a very successful competition for Rangers over the years and last season penalty shoot-out success against Dundee United marked our 25th victory in the League Cup. Another amazing statistic is that over the years, we have only ever lost 6 League Cup Finals (out of 31) a truly staggering statistic. We also suffered an embarrassing final defeat but weââ?¬â?¢ll gloss over that at this juncture and itââ?¬â?¢s worth remembering that this result wasnââ?¬â?¢t the greatest OF victory, we defeated Celtc 8-1 ââ?¬â?? before anyone tells you that this game doesnââ?¬â?¢t ââ?¬Ë?countââ?¬â?¢, Celtc count their solitary goal from that game in their official club history. I believe weââ?¬â?¢ll all remember the titanic finals against Aberdeen in 1988 and 1989 (3-3 and 3-2 respectively) of the fantastic 4-3 victory over Hearts at Tynecastle. The victory over Ayr United in 2002 will also be well remembered for an outlandish piece of showboating from Andre Kanchelskis : [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQJtZF_6Fyc]YouTube - Kanchelskis stands on the ball[/ame] And if like me, you attended that 1995 final at Hampden then you are entitled to claim this as a victory, well it was a moral victory in my eyes! Anyway, I digress, back to the League Cup Final in 1984 a season that ranks as one of the most traumatic in our history. John Greig eventually bowed in increasing pressure and resigned as Rangers manager and was replaced by Jock Wallace. Due to our disastrous start in the league, the cup competitions were (once again) our only true hope for any silverware. The road to Hampden started with a convincing 8-1 aggregate win over Queen of The South and this was followed by impressive victories over Hearts (3-0 at Tynecastle) and St Mirren (5-0 at Ibrox). These results, coupled with return fixtures ensure that Rangers qualified for a two legged Semi-Final against Dundee United. A credible 1-1 draw at Tannidice saw Rangers entertain the tangerines at Ibrox with a place in the final in the balance. From what I remember of the home leg, Rangers played extremely well and won the game 2-0 with Ian Redford scoring the decisive goal with a beautiful chip over the onrushing Hamish McAlpine. Davie Mitchell scored in both legs of the semi-final but wouldnââ?¬â?¢t feature in the cup final itself. In the run up to the final, Jock Wallace had made an immediate impact and Rangers would embark on a 16 game unbeaten run that would eventually come to an end when Dundee won a Scottish Cup replay 3-2 at Ibrox and ended our chances of a domestic cup double. As this was my first OF Cup Final, I didnââ?¬â?¢t really know what to expect. Would it be just like the league encounters? I was soon to find out. I wouldnââ?¬â?¢t sleep the Saturday evening (evening forgoing the Boys Club Disco to ensure that I was match fit for the Sunday). The supporters bus was a buzz of excitement and the journey to Hampden seemed to fly past and before I knew it, I was climbing the stairs on the way to section J. It is impossible to describe the build of noise that this climb generate, or on how louder this gets, reaching a crescendo as you took your place on the terracing. What would stick in my mind that day was the huge gaps in the Celtc end (see you tube links below) and just how louder and mope passionate the Rangers fans were. I know itââ?¬â?¢s romantic to think this way, but in some perverse memory, it felt that we did contribute to our eventual victory as the Rangers fans were ferocious in their backing of the team that day as I had ever seen them. Just like the journey to the game, the game itself flew by and if Iââ?¬â?¢m honest, all I can really remember of the game is the goals, well our goals anyway. Referee for the day was our old friend Bob Valentine and he award three penalties in the game, two to Rangers and one to Celtc and all three were converted. Our first goal was scored from a penalty just before half-time nicely tucked away by Ally McCoist. Rangers scored their 2nd goal on the hour mark after Sandy Clark won a long ball from Peter McCloy and headed the ball into the path of McCoist who slipped home past the despairing Bonner. Celtc equalised and sent then game into extra time, but not before a show of petulance from the Celtc team as they protested a booking to Roy Aitken in an overtly provocative fashion. In fact, a senior Policeman had to intervene. Unsurprisingly, this incident wasnââ?¬â?¢t included in the referees report and the players went unpunished (some things never change). Anyway, into extra-time we went and Rangers were awarded another penalty when Roy Aitken fouled Ally McCoist in the penalty area and the referee correctly pointed to the spot. Another booking for Aitken leading to a red card? You would have thought so, but no, Aitken escaped further punishment and after the dust had settled, Ally McCoist stepped up to face Pat Bonner. The keeper guessed correctly and parried McCoistââ?¬â?¢s kick back out onto the six yard line where Super Ally was awaiting to, at the 2nd attempt, deposit the ball into the net. This is where your mind starts playing tricks with you especially over the ravages of time. From my vantage point, it appeared that the Celtc fans had been celebrating for numerous seconds before Ally put their ââ?¬Ë?gas at a peepââ?¬â?¢. In reality, they had barely the time to jump for joy before Ally reduced them to tears. Well, that was it, bedlam, delirium, ecstasy et al ensued in the Rangers end and I remember being shunted about 10 stairs down and about 20 foot to my right in the celebrations. In fact, one of my friends that I was at the game with lost a trainer in the celebrations but decided that it was a price worth paying! The final whistle sparked further celebrations on and off the pitch and John McClelland led his troops up the famous Hampden stairs to receive the trophy. A huge cheer greeted him as he showed the glittering prize to the rank and file supporters. We had won the cup and my first OF final couldnââ?¬â?¢t have gone better. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih0JoTykCqY&feature=related]YouTube - Rangers vrs Celtic Hampden 83/84 part 1[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG1KwL7P1U0&feature=related]YouTube - Rangers vrs Celtic Hampden 83/84 part2[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGXIeCC0O0k&feature=related]YouTube - Rangers vrs Celtic Hampden 83/84 part3[/ame] http://www.napit.co.uk/viewus/infobank/football/scottishleaguecup.php http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/old-firm/classicmatchreports/2009/02/10/league-cup-final-rangers-3-celtic-2-march-25-1984-86908-21112643/ Cammy F -

And I can’t believe that I’m typing this, we are now the only team able to win the domestic treble. Even after the Inverness debacle, we are still in pole position to land a historic eighth treble and the quest for this treble begins in earnest today. The CO-OP Cup Final has come under various guises over the years, but it is a tournament that has been very kind to us and one that we have been very successful in over the years. On Sunday we will be aiming to win the league cup for a record breaking 26th time. The first official Scottish League Cup was contested in season 1946-47 and we defeated Aberdeen in the Hampden final. Whilst Sunday gives us the opportunity to win the first leg of the treble, it could also give us a psychological boost for the remainder of the league campaign where we have slipped to second favourites after the terrible league performance last Wednesday against ICT at Ibrox. Once again, a diabolical substitution cost us a vital three points in the race for the title. Instead of making a straight swap – Fleck off and Aaron on, Walter Smith decides to replace Edu (one of our better performers on the night) with Lafferty, a change that required four players moving positions and resulted in us losing all momentum that eventually cost us the three points. Sunday will also give an indication as to how the remainder of the season will pan out player / tactics wise. It is a cup final, a one off occasion so you would expect out management team to select a team to win the trophy, rather than a team not to lose the game. The same can be said for the remaining league games. We are now three points behind so the emphasis is on us to win all our remaining SPL games to ensure that the league title comes home to Ibrox. I for one am not confident of the above. I fully expect a 4-5-1 today and can imagine Walter resorting to this formation in the SPL, especially on our travels. The players and management have shown a lack of belief and courage when it was required most. We have been given ample opportunities to cement our place at the top of the SPL, but every-time these opportunities present themselves, we shoot ourselves in the foot. The only consolation is that today’s opposition are as bad as we are. Take out their 7-1 drubbing of St Mirren then their recent form is actually worse than ours. Our ability to win the SPL this season takes on extra significance given the perilous financial situation that we find ourselves in. Another season without Champions League money is unthinkable, so winning the SPL is a must (both financially and more importantly, to stop them from making it four in a row) and the warning shots have been fired. No matter what trophies we happen to win this season, we will be selling at least eight players in the summer. Fail to reach the Champions League, this number may rise. This again is unthinkable as this would further weaken our squad thus making it harder to mount a domestic challenge next season – it’s the classic snowball effect of downsizing. We are in pole position in the Scottish Cup given Celtc’s loss to St Mirren at the weekend, a result that should have lifted our collective spirits as once again, it showed how ordinary a team that they are. Faced with pace and physical presence they struggle (were you watching Mr Smith?). I would gladly give up the two domestic cups to ensure that we win the SPL. That would be hard to take admittedly, especially given Sunday’s opponents. It is always unbearable losing to them, but losing to them in a final hurts even more (see below). The league is the priority, but today, lets enjoy our day in the sun (hopefully) and lets get the Old Lady rocking. Cammy F -

RANGERS' Homecoming Scottish Cup semi-final showdown against St Mirren at Hampden Park will be screened live on Sky Sports on Saturday, April 25, with a 12.15pm kick-off. The second semi-final - which sees Falkirk paired against Aberdeen or Dunfermline - goes ahead the following day, also at the National Stadium, but will not be screened live. Kick-off time to be decided. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2494582.0.0.php

by Lindsay Herron KIRK BROADFOOT'S dreams of facing Celtic in the Co-operative Insurance Cup Final at Hampden on Sunday could be wrecked by a foot injury. The former St Mirren defender has ligament damage and the Murray Park medical team are unsure if it will clear in time, Nacho Novo gets treatmentThe good news for Rangers is that Madjid Bougherra has been passed fit despite taking a calf knock in last Sunday's 5-1 Homecoming Scottish Cup win over Hamilton. And manager Walter Smith has revealed that Nacho Novo has a chance of making the squad as the Spanish striker battles back from an ankle injury suffered at the end of January. Smith said today: "Madjid will be fine. Nacho has a chance for the final and we hope he will be available but we will know more later in the week. "Kirk has ligament damage in his foot and, again, we hope he will be fit but we will have to wait until later in the week." Broadfoot missed the Hamilton game last Sunday and in his absence Stevie Whittaker produced a good performance at right back topped by a terrific solo goal. This might have nailed his place for the Final - even if Broadfoot recovers - although Smith was not giving anything away. He said: "Steven did well on Sunday and he was more like himself. He was doing the type of things we know he is capable of. "When players come in to the team we always want them to try to force us into making decisions and Steven has made a case for the Final. "The same goes for Kyle Lafferty who played well at the weekend."

RANGERS legend Davie Provan feared Kyle Lafferty was a giant striker who didnââ?¬â?¢t punch his weight ââ?¬â? or jump his height. He reckoned you couldnââ?¬â?¢t slip a newspaper under the 6ft 3in hitmanââ?¬â?¢s feet when he leapt for a ball. But Provan admits Laffertyââ?¬â?¢s double against Hamilton on Sunday has started to change his mind. And he believes the Ã?£3.25million man can really take off in Sundayââ?¬â?¢s Co-operative Insurance Cup Final against Celtic. Provan said: ââ?¬Å?I saw Kyle play before and, without being disrespectful, he couldnââ?¬â?¢t get his feet off the ground. ââ?¬Å?You couldnââ?¬â?¢t get a newspaper under his feet when he jumped for the ball and it wasnââ?¬â?¢t great. ââ?¬Å?Itââ?¬â?¢s pointless having a big frontman who canââ?¬â?¢t jump and canââ?¬â?¢t score. ââ?¬Å?But I was at the game on Sunday and the fact he got two goals will be just what he needed. ââ?¬Å?A striker of Kyleââ?¬â?¢s size should be able to win the ball in the air and hit the back of the net. ââ?¬Å?The goals against Hamilton will be a boost as scoring always helps the confidence. ââ?¬Å?And the goals will probably be enough for him to get a start at Hampden.ââ?¬Â Lafferty won a rare start alongside Kenny Miller against Accies in the Scottish Cup quarter-final. Now his double has put him ahead of 24-goal Kris Boyd in the pecking order for Hampden. Boyd was the hero of TWO finals last year as Gers landed both domestic cups. But Provan ââ?¬â? who made almost 200 appearances for the Ibrox men ââ?¬â? believes the clubââ?¬â?¢s top scorer will be back on the bench on Sunday. He admitted: ââ?¬Å?I wouldnââ?¬â?¢t be surprised if Boyd was on the bench for the final. ââ?¬Å?He did not start against Hamilton and Rangers won the game 5-1. ââ?¬Å?Walter Smith will start with Miller and the big fellow. ââ?¬Å?It looked to be quite a good combination, but he MUST play two forwards. ââ?¬Å?I understood using the 4-5-1 formation in Europe last term and it served them well all the way to the UEFA Cup Final. ââ?¬Å?But in Scotland I think itââ?¬â?¢s a bad day if Rangers donââ?¬â?¢t have two up in every game.ââ?¬Â Provan was in the Gers side which defeated Celts in the 1964-65 League Cup Final. But the former left-back also lost Old Firm League Cup Finals in the next two seasons. Provan still works for the Light Blues as a matchday host and is desperate for them to lift the trophy again. And he feels the cup winners will gain a psychological edge for the SPL title run-in. He said: ââ?¬Å?I donââ?¬â?¢t think there is a clear favourite on Sunday because the two teams are too similar. ââ?¬Å?But whoever wins will have a big plus over the loser in terms of winning the league. ââ?¬Å?Rangers can win the Treble, but Celtic canââ?¬â?¢t after losing to St Mirren on Saturday. ââ?¬Å?Rangers will give it their all and they certainly have the players to do it. ââ?¬Å?I have been very impressed by Steven Davis and Pedro Mendes in midfield this season. Advertisement ââ?¬Å?And David Weir has been fantastic, apart from his one mistake last midweek against Inverness Caley Thistle.ââ?¬Â Provan believes the 14th meeting of the Old Firm in a League Cup Final is too close to call. He has seen Gers and Celts turn on the style this term. But he has also witnessed surprise stumbles against Caley and Saints in the past week. He added: ââ?¬Å?We had a bad day against Inverness ââ?¬â? it was a JOKE. ââ?¬Å?And you wouldnââ?¬â?¢t have believed Celtic would lose to St Mirren. ââ?¬Å?This is a season when you never know whatââ?¬â?¢s round the next corner. ââ?¬Å?Rangers hit five on Sunday but, with no disrespect to Hamilton, it will count for nothing come Sunday. ââ?¬Å?Celtic have their problems as well and you just never know what can happen in an Old Firm final.ââ?¬Â Lafferty, of course, could be the man to win it for Gers if he keeps fansââ?¬â?¢ favourite Boyd on the bench. He hasnââ?¬â?¢t had the greatest start to his Ibrox adventure after Smith forked out a bumper fee for him. But Provan reckons itââ?¬â?¢s finally time the big manââ?¬â?¢s career lifted off. http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/article2309553.ece