McCoist says get on with it

[craig 5,199]

Looks like a wee sly dig at Celtic.......

 

 

Rangers assistant boss Ally McCoist insists moaning about the SPL's post-split fixtures is a pointless exercise.

 

A number of clubs have complained about their lot since the final five fixtures of the season were announced on Sunday, including the Ibrox club's arch rivals Celtic.

 

The Hoops have demanded an explanation as to why Rangers will end up playing three home games against Hearts when a trip to Tynecastle would have provided a much stiffer test.

 

But McCoist said: "The split is what it is and you can mump and moan about things all you like. You just have to take your chances with it when you get them.

 

"Everyone plays against each other once when the top six break away and you need to get on with it. Sometimes it works for you and sometimes it doesn't.

 

"People will always find something to complain about but I'm certainly not doing it. We're happy with how the last five matches have worked out.

 

"The SPL do their best to accommodate everybody and, while we'd rather play our last game at home, we haven't got that. That's fine and we'll just see what that brings us.

 

"All of our matches will be tough, no matter where they are played, so we'll just roll our sleeves up, get on with the task in hand and hope that we win the league in the end.

 

"We are going to have to do it the hard way by going to Easter Road and Tannadice and having to beat Aberdeen, Hearts and Celtic at home.

 

"But you must earn the championship.

 

"If we want to win the title, we'll have to show what we are made of. That'll be the case whenever we have to go and whoever we play and we've no qualms with how the fixtures have panned out."

 

The SPL's primary concern when the post-split fixtures are compiled is ensuring each club ends up playing 19 home and away matches during the campaign.

 

Instead of a second trip to Tynecastle, where they lost in November, Rangers will instead visit Hibernian for a third time.

 

They have won both games at Easter Road so far this term but McCoist is adamant his side have not been handed an easy ride.

 

He said: "Easter Road is a heck of a place to go for a third time. I remember going there as a player myself and we had some real tussles and right battles at the ground.

 

"It's the same now when I go there as the assistant manager.

 

"Sure, it's a good place to go and play football because they've got a fantastic surface there, but they make things very difficult for you too."

[ian1964 10,514]

By Andrew Dickson

 

ALLY McCOIST insists Rangers have no complaints about how they'll end the SPL - because they'll have to earn the title regardless of who or where they play.

 

With three home games after the split - including one against Celtic - and no trip to Tynecastle, there's an argument that Gers' finishing schedule could have been harder.

 

Ally McCoistMcCoist isn't one who subscribes to that theory and he's adamant it would have been tough for them however the remaining five fixtures had panned out.

 

The Light Blues are currently one point behind Celtic at the summit, having recorded four consecutive league wins for the first time since September.

 

In their best form for several months, they are confident of reclaiming the championship despite occupying second place rather than first at this stage.

 

After this weekend's Scottish Cup semi-final with St Mirren at Hampden, the Ibrox outfit will focus on how to win their 52nd Scottish flag over the following month.

 

They'll start the run-in by hosting Hearts and their Old Firm rivals, with the visit of Aberdeen sandwiched between trips to Hibernian then Dundee United on the last day.

 

It goes with the territory that the split after 33 rounds of matches causes controversy and there's usually somebody left unhappy with how it works.

 

But McCoist is keen to avoid getting caught up in pros and cons, concentrating instead on how to go about ensuring Rangers finish the competition with silverware in their grasp.

 

"The split is what it is and you can mump and moan about things all you like," he said. "You just have to take your chances with it when you get them.

 

Ally McCoist and Walter Smith"Everyone plays against each other once when the top six break away and you need to get on with it. Sometimes it works for you and sometimes it doesn't.

 

"People will always find something to complain about but I'm certainly not doing it. We're happy with how the last five matches have worked out.

 

"The SPL do their best to accommodate everybody and while we'd rather play our last game at home, we haven't got that. That's fine and we'll just see what that brings us.

 

"All of our matches will be tough, no matter where they are played, so we'll just roll our sleeves up, get on with the task in hand and hope that we win the league in the end.

 

"We are going to have to do it the hard way by going to the likes of Easter Road and Tannadice and having to beat Aberdeen, Hearts and Celtic again.

 

"But you must earn the championship. If we want to win the title, we'll have to show what we're made of.

 

"That'll be the case wherever we have to go and whoever we play and we've no qualms with how the fixtures have panned out."