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Rangers have landed a much-needed Ã?£300,000 TV windfall from their exertions in the Active Nations Scottish Cup so far this season. Sky TV today confirmed they will show live coverage of Gers fifth round replay against St Mirren on Wednesday, Ferbruary 17 at Ibrox. And that means all four of the cup holdersââ?¬â?¢ ties so far this term will have been broadcast, bringing much needed cash into the Ibrox coffers. Sky pay Ã?£82,500 to each club when they cover a cup-tie. They screened Rangersââ?¬â?¢ fourth-round tie, and subsequent replay, against Hamilton Accies last month and will now show the Saints clash a week tomorrow. And there was also a payment to Gers and Saints from the BBC, who covered the 0-0 draw between the clubs last Saturday lunchtime. With a place in the Co-operative Insurance League Cup Final also secured next month against each other, both clubs are banking much-needed additional revenue from the domestic scene. However, after talks yesterday, it has been agreed that ticket prices for next weekââ?¬â?¢s cup replay will be dramatically reduced ââ?¬â?? with kids also going free. Rangers approached St Mirren over a pricing structure and pointed out that a crowd of just under 22,000 turned out for the Hamilton Accies replay at Ibrox. Ticket prices for the general public have been slashed to just Ã?£15 and Ã?£5. And four kids can get into Ibrox for free with a full-paying adult. Rangers season ticket holders will also receive a further Ã?£2 discount, which is being subsidised by the club. Meanwhile, boss Walter Smith is hoping Sasa Papac will be back in action against Motherwell tomorrow night at Fir Park. The left-back returned to full training yesterday after missing the last two matches with a knee problem. Smith said: ââ?¬Å?Weââ?¬â?¢re hopeful Sasa will be fit for Motherwell. He doesnââ?¬â?¢t miss many games and weââ?¬â?¢re keen to get him back. ââ?¬Å?As long as thereââ?¬â?¢s no reaction to him training, he should be able to return.ââ?¬Â http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/editor-s-picks-ignore/rangers-enjoy-sky-cup-cash-boost-1.1005036

BOSNIAN stopper returns to training and should be fit for Well trip More...

McDOWALL adamant Kris will only play when he is ready More...

The winners of our match tomorrow night will play St Mirren. They beat the Jambos 1-0.

WALTER SMITH will wait until the weekend before drafting Madjid Bougherra back into his Rangers side. The Algerian defender, linked with a move to Sunderland over the weekend, has been given time off by the Light Blues manager after his Africa Cup of Nations campaign. Madjid BougherraAt this stage, Smith does not expect any transfer activity involving Gers today - and that means Bougherra appears poised to remain in Glasgow for the rest of the season. But having not trained with his Ibrox team-mates for a month because he has been in Angola, the manager is not going to rush him straight into the first XI. Instead, the former Charlton man is scheduled to return to Murray Park for training on Thursday morning with a view to appearing in Saturday's Scottish Cup tie at St Mirren. That means teenager Danny Wilson should continue in the side when Rangers meet St Johnstone in the last four of the League Cup on Wednesday night at Hampden Park. Smith said: "Madjid won't play this midweek. It's always asking a bit much of any player who has been away for the length of time he has been to come straight back in. "He has been over in Angola playing in the tournament there so he'll return here for training later in the week then be available for the weekend." Kenny Miller, meanwhile, has been given an outside chance of featuring at the national stadium - and Smith has stressed there's no long-term concern over his hamstring injury. The Scotland striker has been plagued by what has seemed to be the same problem for a number of months. But the Gers boss insists that's not the case and is adamant the issue is only flaring up now because of the intense match schedule his team is involved in. Kenny MillerSmith added: "There's a slight chance we could have Kenny back for the St Johnstone match. "We brought him back last Wednesday at St Mirren in the league and it wasn't the right time for him so we'll make sure he is okay before he plays again. "The situation is getting better every day. It might be that our next game comes too early for him but we will wait and see. "It's not the same problem that keeps coming back for Kenny and it's actually a bit different from the one he had before. "The run of games we've had every Wednesday and Saturday hasn't helped him, especially as he's an explosive sort of player. "His hamstring is tightening up just now because of a hip problem he has but once we get back to having one game a week it should settle down." http://www.rangers.co.uk/articles/20100201/boughie-back-against-buddies_2254024_1951574

St Mirren have snapped up Celtic midfielder Graham Carey on loan until the end of the season. More...

Will train with St Mirren today and sign for the rest of the season on loan. Likely to be in their squad for the Hibs game tomorrow.

My preview got us off to a good start this month. Lol As I previously suggested, if we really are to reap the benefit of an excellent run through December and the New year fixtures where we beat all of our closest title challengers except Celtic (with whom we drew), then we need to attain maximum points across an "easier" run of games. 3 hard won points against Accies today, with Celtic dropping 2 more points. :spl: If we can take maximum points from the 3 remaining league fixtures in January (and dispose of Accies in the cup Tuesday) we will be positively flying.

Thanks to OOA for the ratings... http://www.gersnetonline.co.uk/2010/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=201:st-mirren-0-2-rangers-player-ratings-and-mom-poll&catid=35:analysis&Itemid=67 I can't comment on the MOM having not seen the game so I'll let the fine folks of Gersnet do this for me!

Andrew Dickson reports from St Mirren Park RANGERS face another wait to see how severe Kenny Miller's hamstring injury is after he was forced to withdraw from tonight's win over St Mirren early. The Scotland striker has been plagued by the recurring problem for a number of weeks, most lately pulling up with it against Hamilton last midweek. Kenny MillerOnce again this evening, he didn't look totally comfortable and had to be substituted in the second half of the 2-0 victory in Paisley. It seems that Miller faces a race against time to be fit for Saturday's home game with Falkirk, a team he has scored three goals against already this season. Given Kris Boyd is currently out, being without the former Derby man too would be a big blow for Gers boss Walter Smith. He said: "Kenny was just struggling a little bit in the second half so we had to take him off as a precaution. "I don't think it's a serious one but whether he will be fit for the weekend or not, we're not quite sure." While Miller's troubles continue, there was good news too as Nacho Novo scored on his return from injury and Steven Naismith appeared for the first time in nearly six weeks. Smith added: "It was pleasing to get a few of our players back again and it was important they got a run out. It has been an awkward situation for us lately and after having a few people out, we now have to get them a decent amount of playing time. "That's always going to be difficult but we managed to get Steven some minutes tonight and it was good to see him back." Anybody else think he was brought back too early ??, I know it's easy for me to say but why risk losing him for longer ??, you would think himself & the Rangers back room staff should know if he is over an injury,no??.

St Mirren boss Gus MacPherson has told Dennis Wyness and Mohammed Camara they are free to leave the club. More...

Well Pete is lucky enough to be going to Dortmund - Hamburg. I'm choosing between the Chelsea game and Motherwell - St Mirren. Lol. Shall I be loyal to Scottish football and watch the likely crappier game; might also give me a greater appreciation of the qualities of our opponents.

SECOND yellow rules skipper out of Buddies cup clash More... DAVID WEIR will miss Rangers' Scottish Cup trip to St Mirren next month after he was cautioned once more against Hamilton last night. The Ibrox captain collected his second booking of this season's competition for dissent after a cynical foul on Nacho Novo by David Elebert. Weir was furious with the challenge during the second half of the Light Blues' 2-0 win against Accies in their fourth round replay. And in the melee that followed the tackle, the veteran stopper and Simon Mensing exchanged angry words. The upshot of it all was that referee Charlie Richmond showed yellow cards to both Elebert and Weir for their parts in the incident. Weir was also cautioned in the original tie with Hamilton at New Douglas Park 10 days ago. He'll consequently sit out the game against the Buddies at their new stadium on either February 6 or 7 as he serves a one-match suspension. Kirk Broadfoot, Lee McCulloch and Steven Whittaker are also just one yellow card from bans in the same tournament.

CUP match to take place on Saturday 6 February at 12.30pm More...

A number of Turkish clubs are looking to land St Mirren striker Billy Mehmet, skysports.com understands. More...

Aberdeen's home meeting with Falkirk and the clash between Hamilton and St Mirren have been postponed. More...

STEVE CONROY will take charge of his first Old Firm clash when Celtic and Rangers go head-to-head at Parkhead on January 3. It will be 43-year-old Conroyââ?¬â?¢s first crack at handling an Old Firm clash ââ?¬â?? and the SFA are convinced he has what it takes to come through the biggest test in his refereeing career with flying colours. Conroy has taken charge of games involving both Celtic and Rangers in the past, but this is his first oppor-tunity to be the man in the middle when they are facing each other. The SFA aim to introduce a new batch of referees to the famous fixture. The only top-flight officials who have taken charge of an Old Firm clash are Craig Thomson, Dougie McDonald and Calum Murray as the recent retirements of Kenny Clark and Stuart Dougal have left the SFA short of referees with Old Firm experience. But Conroy is now believed to possess the credentials to cope with whatever the fixture might throw at him ââ?¬â?? and it is understood he has worked closely with refereesââ?¬â?¢ chief Hugh Dallas in recent times. He did, however, send Walter Smith to the stand earlier this season as Rangers dropped two points against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. The whistler had earlier sent off Pedro Mendes in one of four red cards he has shown in 11 appearances this season. He has also issued 49 cautions in those matches. Conroy was also in charge when Celtic drew at home to Dundee United earlier in the season as well as in their recent victory over St Mirren.

Celtic will be looking to get their title bid back on track against St Mirren after losing to Dundee United. More...

When Berndt Schuster, the classy midfield libero, decided to abandon his international career in 1984 at the age of just 24, there was much wailing in West Germany. Despite the tears, though, the Jerries knew that they could call upon player of similar stature and continue to bestride the European and world stage. Germany's luxury of choice, though, has never been an option for Scotland, who are lucky to have one or two world class players per team. How frustrating is it, then, when the few players we have whom you would rate highly are as likely to be standing beside you in the pub, watching the game, as they are to be on the pitch? Another international week, another reason for Scotland fans to gnash their teeth in bitter frustration. Or perhaps just the Rangers fans amongst them, for they better than anyone know what form their keeper, Allan McGregor, is in. Owing to the contrived media storm over the V-sign controversy some months ago, of course, McGregor is unavailable for the Scotland-Wales game, and in the wake of Sunderland's Craig Gordon breaking his arm at the weekend, there is news today that St Mirren's Paul Gallagher has been called up. I don't know much about Gallagher; he may be a very promising player for all I know, although at 30 you have to feel he's as good as he's going to be. His performance on Saturday, ironically enough against Rangers, didn't inspire much confidence, as he spilled the ball in the opening 20 seconds to present Kris Boyd with the dream start of a goal. Scotland boss George Burley, who apparently went along with the decision to ban McGregor, can't be happy with this state of affairs. Instead of a goalie who is excelling at Champions League level, we have one who is at best average at SPL level. We can't ignore McGregor's role in all this: I'd hate to see the player think that, due to his talent, he can do what he likes. Any recall would have to be accompanied by a very public statement about being in the last chance saloon! McGregor seems to be, from the outside anyway, a boy whose head has been turned - we Rangers fans have Walter Smith to thank for bringing him back from the graveyard of wasted talent and I doubt we would be thrilled in the SFA drove him there in a limo. I would bet, though, that we can trust him to behave this time. Reversing his decision and picking McGregor would leave Burley open to charges of weakness, and indecision. So what? If he sticks with his current plan, he'll be criticised for being too dogmatic. In short, he can't win: so why doesn't he simply pick the best team, to get the best result? I suppose this is a bit utopian, but I'd still like to think that the boss of Scotland is only interested in seeing Scotland win, rather than worrying about what some writer or fan may or may not say. It's bad enough that Boyd is unavailable due to a mix of poor management and petulance, but at least there are one or two forwards who are at least nearly as good as he is. In goals, we have Gordon and McGregor. That's it. We're in no position to be fussy here. Grab the bull by the horns, George Burley! Pick up the phone. What have you got to lose? Only the game.

http://www.gersnetonline.co.uk/2010/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=144:rangers-2-1-st-mirren-player-ratings-and-mom-poll&catid=35:analysis&Itemid=67 Man of the Match - :jf:

Quite a nice article from DoTheBouncy -

Kris Boyd further underlined his value to Rangers on Saturday with a double in a 2-1 win over St Mirren. More...

:sw: :mb: :wilson: :sp: :sn: :kt: :sd: :jf: :kb:

i think 7 or 8 youngstes should get a lot moe game time this season the likes of lowing mcmillan wilson wylde shinnie ness fleck loy and little could all come in and do a job i think especially when we are at home to a bottom 6 team in the spl the likes of hamilton st mirren falkirk st johnstone and in cup games

I see we have that disgusting animal Brines in charge of our game this saturday against St Mirren. I really quite dislike the man and his abilities as a referee. The full list is here http://www.scotprem.co.uk/content/default.asp?page=s2&newsid=8354&back=home