Rangers are heading for another derby day demolition...

[ian1964 10,486]

Rangers can bounce back from Celtic thrashing just like they did 16 years ago says Ian Durrant

 

HE reckons a win for his former side in the Betfred Cup would send out a message that they really are back in business.

 

IAN DURRANT suffered and dished out hammerings in Old Firm games over the course of a stellar career at Ibrox.

 

But the Rangers legend believes it’s how players react to the defeats that determines whether they have what it takes to wear the jersey.

 

That’s why Durrant, who left his role as Rangers U20s coach in the summer, will be watching Sunday’s Betfred Cup semi-final clash with Celtic even more closely than usual.

 

He is hoping for a positive reaction from Mark Warburton’s men to the 5-1 drubbing at Parkhead on September 10 and, although he believes Celtic will win the title, he reckons a win for Rangers in the cup would send out a message that they really are back in business.

 

Durrant said: “Rangers will have great backing at Hampden and this is the time to stand up and be a Rangers player.

 

“If you look back in history, teams have overturned big defeats quickly. In the 2000-01 season Rangers lost 6-2 and then in the next one, albeit after the addition of Ronald de Boer, they turned Celtic over 5-1. That was in a matter of two months.

 

“Rangers were big underdogs at Parkhead last time and they will be big underdogs again. But this is where, if you want to be a Rangers player, it is the time to stand up. We have heard a lot of talk and a lot of things but this is it now. They have a chance to play Celtic fairly quickly.”

 

Warburton brought in 11 players during the summer but Durrant saw enough in those the manager brought to the club in his first season to suggest that Rangers have the backbone to rise to the challenge.

 

He said: “I only know the ones that came in last year. Guys like Jason Holt, Andy Halliday and Harry Forrester. They are characters and they believe in their own ability.

 

“Martyn Waghorn is never short of goals. Kenny Miller and Lee Wallace have been over it and they know what the script is. Danny Wilson has been there before. So they have characters but it is about the team.

 

“It’s a team effort and in an Old Firm a lot of the times they are not the prettiest of games. A lot depends on luck and if you score first you have a chance.

 

“The semi-final last season when Rangers played so well can be a help but in hindsight, Celtic might have used that to their advantage the last time.

 

“They came out the blocks straight away. Rangers had been doing well until they lost the first goal and then the wee frailties showed up. Obviously, going down to 10 men rubbed salt into the wound.

 

“At 3-1 you’re trying to push on but they were cut open at the back and although Celtic were better on the day I would say 5-1 against 10 men flattered them a little bit.”

 

Durrant recalled a couple of occasions during his own career when Rangers came out on top despite being huge underdogs - one of them in only his third game for the club in May, 1985 when his team escaped with a draw despite having Davie Cooper and Ally Dawson sent off.

 

“My first Old Firm game was at Parkhead and we were down to nine and up against it,” he said. “If wasn’t for Peter McCloy we’d have been hammered then as usual, Golden Bollocks McCoist snatched the equaliser and we got out with a draw.”

 

And a surprise win in November 1985 after being knocked out of Europe by Osasuna, beaten in the League Cup by Hibs and on a run of one win in five league games, also sticks in Durrant’s mind.

 

He said: “Big Jock Wallace was the manager and Celtic were expected to beat us easily as we were on a bad run but we beat them 3-0 at Ibrox.

 

“So, there have been games when Rangers have been big underdogs and got results. But that counts for nothing.

 

“It’s when you go out that tunnel – you need 11 men to turn up.

 

“Everybody has to stand up, know their job and do their job. If that happens, and you get a bit of luck, you can win.

 

“We all know that any defeat at Rangers is unacceptable. Lose three games and it’s a crisis. And when you go down 5-1 to your fiercest rivals...

 

“The great thing is they’ve a chance to rectify it so early.”

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-can-bounce-back-celtic-9065000

[boabie 230]

Coward Thomson will be the referee again.

[Uilleam 5,533]

Craig Thomson appointed to referee Rangers vs Celtic Betfred Cup semi final

 

Goal of a start to the fhilth, then.

[der Berliner 3,328]

One could start a competition called: "How many fouls will Brown be allowed to commit before he gets a caution?"

[Tannochsidebear 2,322]

One could start a competition called: "How many fouls will Brown be allowed to commit before he gets a caution?"

 

I will start us off with 24, of which only 8 will actually be given as fouls, and the yellow coming after 80 mins.

 

Any advance on that?

[scotjo 19]

Don't think so Murdo. Back at a Neutral venue makes things a bit more level. We self destructed at Parkhead and admittedly the manager got his team and tactics wrong. The fact we don't have to wait until New Year to rectify that is a boost and probably an advantage.

 

I agree, this talk of demolition is rash and if we are to lose it will be only by a goal

[scotjo 19]

I reckon Holt will start and probably Windass with Miller up with McKay.

Edited October 18, 2016 by scotjo

[JFK-1 1,684]

This is an entirely different game which Murdo seems to be ignoring in favour of branding it part two. We didn't turn up at all that day and despite that we were still in it until Senderos got his marching orders and that's when it totally fell apart since we had just withdrawn the other CB minutes earlier. We need to get into it straight away which seems to be a problem for us in many games and Caley recently were another example of that. It took 10 minutes or so to warm up and start pinning them back.

 

And Caley are also actually an example that they're no great shakes outside their own hovel as Caley recently held them to a draw in Inverness. We're better than Caley, we can take it a step further. But I get the feeling this could be another extra time drama and if we're were going to utilise Kranjcar he has to be used at the right time because there is no way he can be effective for 120 minutes.

 

This could be a perfect game for Garner to do his thing provided he can keep his aggression to an acceptable level, we can't afford to go down to 10 men a second time. And O'Halloran was always a pain in their side when with St Johnstone. We have many options and I would have liked Rossiter to be one of them but he has been out for weeks and can't possibly be 100%

 

A bad night against Monchengladbach could put a pin in their little bubble of optimism because they think they're now Euro giants after one result against Man City that wasn't even a win.

[pete 2,499]

This is an entirely different game which Murdo seems to be ignoring in favour of branding it part two. We didn't turn up at all that day and despite that we were still in it until Senderos got his marching orders and that's when it totally fell apart since we had just withdrawn the other CB minutes earlier. We need to get into it straight away which seems to be a problem for us in many games and Caley recently were another example of that. It took 10 minutes or so to warm up and start pinning them back.

 

And Caley are also actually an example that they're no great shakes outside their own hovel as Caley recently held them to a draw in Inverness. We're better than Caley, we can take it a step further. But I get the feeling this could be another extra time drama and if we're were going to utilise Kranjcar he has to be used at the right time because there is no way he can be effective for 120 minutes.

 

This could be a perfect game for Garner to do his thing provided he can keep his aggression to an acceptable level, we can't afford to go down to 10 men a second time. And O'Halloran was always a pain in their side when with St Johnstone. We have many options and I would have liked Rossiter to be one of them but he has been out for weeks and can't possibly be 100%

 

A bad night against Monchengladbach could put a pin in their little bubble of optimism because they think they're now Euro giants after one result against Man City that wasn't even a win.

 

Rossiter was fit for last weeks game but was not risked he has now had another weeks training so I can see him starting and getting 60 minutes. I am not sure if he has played for the U20's or not.

[ian1964 10,486]

MARK WARBURTON has urged his Rangers fringe stars to follow Kenny Miller’s example as they bid to earn a starting spot against Celtic.

 

The striker netted his 100th goal for the Gers in the win over Inverness on Friday night and is in line to feature in the Betfred Cup semi-final at Hampden.

 

Miller has made 14 appearances for the Light Blues this term and boss Warburton is delighted with his contribution on and off the park.

 

He said: “I used the example to a couple of boys of Kenny Miller.

 

“Before the previous Celtic game, we played Linfield on the Saturday in a friendly and here is a player at 36, nearly 37 years of age, who scored four goals and worked his socks off for the 75 minutes he was on the pitch.

 

“He basically said ‘pick me’. That is how I described it to a couple of players.

 

“His performance said very clearly ‘you cannot leave me out’.

 

“With all Kenny has done, with his CV, with the clubs he has played for, the international caps, all his achievements, his desire to play is stronger than ever.

 

“That has to be matched by every single player in the squad. Their work ethic and commitment has been outstanding.

 

“But he sets an example, he sets a tone in terms of saying ‘I want to play in that game and that is the way it has to be week in week out.”

 

Rangers head to Hampden determined to make amends for their 5-1 Old Firm defeat at Parkhead last month and book a final berth.

 

And Warburton reckons his side have made progress in the weeks since their last meeting with their Old Firm foes.

 

“We had Josh, we had Joe, we had Philippe, a number of new players, coming into the side and making debuts,” he told RangersTV.

 

“We have moved on. We have gelled as a squad, we are getting better.

 

“It is early days, we are nine games in to the league season but it is taking shape and our performance level has improved dramatically in the last four, five weeks.”

 

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/14809314.Mark_Warburton__Kenny_Miller_is_an_example_to_follow_for_Rangers_squad_ahead_of_Celtic_clash/