No let-up as Rangers bid to settle title race

Ian Paul

14 Apr 1993

THE impression that Rangers, as a result of this long, long season, are in need of a pit-stop before the final laps are tackled may be reasonable enough, but their manager, Walter Smith, made a few observations yesterday which indicate that his players may be able to find the necessary spark to see them through to the wire.

"We have reached the point where we can see the winning post" he said, "and that helps a lot."

The league title, the first of those posts -- in Rangers' case there are three in vision -- could be reached quite soon, but Smith would prefer to revert to type and avoid discussing the permutations that could result in the flag being hoisted at Ibrox on Saturday.

The game with Hearts at Tynecastle tonight is the first task, and one that he sees as anything but a formality.

For that and other reasons, Smith will not succumb to the temptation this week to rest some key players with next week's Champions' League meeting with CSKA Moscow in mind.

"If you look at our fixtures in the run-in you will see that none of them could be taken for granted.

"We have only two home games in the last seven, with places like Pittodrie, Tynecastle, and Broomfield to visit.

Our priority is to get the league job done first."

The other salient factor is the restriction in personnel options open to the manager, who might have been keen to use experienced members of his pool who had been out of things recently.

"The likes of Dale Gordon and Alexei Mikhailichenko would have been the kind of players who could be brought in at this stage, but they have been injured and it would not really be fair to put so much pressure on the younger lads at this stage of the season."

The regulars, therefore, will be asked to get the title issue settled if possible this week and then gear themselves for the final fling in the Champions' League next Wednesday.

Two exceptions to that are keeper Andy Goram and defender David Robertson, both of whom are left out tonight.

Both could be back for the meeting with Partick Thistle on Saturday.

Smith acknowledges that the fact he has such an able deputy in Ally Maxwell allows him to give the Scotland keeper another night off.

"At a push Andy could have played tomorrow" he said, "but we have to make sure he will be fit for other games to come."

Beating Hearts will be tough enough for the moment.

As Smith pointed out, the Edinburgh team have lost fewer goals than any other side in the league and consequently are difficult to beat.

"It will be tight and we will have to be at our best to keep our winning run going."

The fact is, none the less, that Hearts, in fourth place, are a startling 20 points behind the leaders and would be considered none too demanding opposition but for the fact that they need the points if they wish to keep alive their hopes of a European place next season.

That prospect means a great deal in every sense, not least financial, and the players at Tynecastle will be no less aware of this than the management.

The man in charge, Joe Jordan, has not entirely ruled out international defender Alan McLaren, who suffered ankle damage on Saturday.

"The swelling has gone down a good deal, but if he doesn't make it we'll give him every chance for Saturday," said Jordan.

Celtic, following Hibs' defeat of Dundee United last night, are now guaranteed a place in next season's UEFA Cup and, with that worry out of the way, manager Liam Brady will shortly get down to sorting out contracts with a clutch of players, including midfielder John Collins.

Brady said yesterday: "I will be talking to all the lads out of contract soon.

As I have said before, all you can do is make an offer that you think is fair and take it from there."

As well as Collins, the manager will be talking terms with the two keepers, Pat Bonner and Gordon Marshall, striker Gerry Creaney, and defender Mike Galloway.

Another man whose future is the subject of speculation, Charlie Nicholas, still has a year of his contract to run.

Before that, however, the UEFA Cup spot has to be secured and that could happen this week when the side meet Hibs at Easter Road, depending on other scores.

Taken from the Herald