Europe must wait as Smith concentrates on the home front

JAMES TRAYNOR

13 Mar 1993

THE FLU epidemic which is spreading through Scottish football -- must be all that cuddling when goals are scored -- and caused the postponement of Celtic's match against Motherwell will have a vital bearing on the other premier division matches this afternoon.

Clubs have had players phoning in from their sickbeds and though Motherwell's problems are more acute than the others a few managers will have to stretch resources to the limits to make up the numbers.

However, Rangers, who have struggled all season against injury problems, appear to have escaped.

Nevertheless, the Ibrox side's manager Walter Smith still finds himself deprived of the services of key players, Richard Gough, Gary Stevens, Andy Goram, and Ian Ferguson, who are nursing injuries, but the hope is three of them will be restored to health for the European match with Club Brugge at Ibrox next week.

Tickets for that match are still available and will be on sale at Ibrox from 9.30 this morning.

Ferguson, in fact, played for a half of a reserve match against Clyde on Thursday night and although he felt twinges from his back yesterday morning he has a chance of being fit for the European tie.

There are hopes also for Gough and Goram even though neither has been able to play for a couple of weeks.

However, Smith preferred yesterday to dwell only on today's game against Hibernian and although he isn't exactly in a state of panic about the gap between his team and Aberdeen having been closed to eight points, he would rather not see the amount of daylight between the sides squeezed any further.

He watched Hibs lose 2-1 to Aberdeen in midweek and, like most others who were at Easter Road, felt luck was not with the Edinburgh side.

He also knows from recent experience how dangerous Hibs can be when the ball runs for them and if anyone requires proof look no further back than the league match at Easter Road on January when Rangers won 4-3.

"That was one of the most exciting games we have played in this season and although both myself and Alex Miller were left looking at our defences I would imagine the fans enjoyed it," said Smith, who added that Ian Durrant could be in line to start his first match since the turn of the year.

"He's in my thoughts, but there are one or two things to be considered before I finalise the team.

He's shown signs in games as a substitute recently to suggest he could be brightening up again."

Darren Jackson delighted the fans in the game against Aberdeen and if he is still in the mood he will cause problems, especially if he is better assisted by Keith Wright, who didn't play well at all last time out.

In fact, had Wright been on form Hibs probably would have beaten the Dons and Alex Miller has told his players they will all have to be on top of their form today.

Aberdeen still insist the championship has not been won and lost and will continue to try to amass as many points as they can, which is hardly good news for Falkirk, who are in relegation trouble.

The Pittodrie manager Willie Miller knows Falkirk to fight all they way this afternoon and even though his selection will be restricted because 11 of his squad have flu he still expects both points.

The manager has brought in two youngsters, Kenny Gilbert and Stephan McAnespie, and Paul Mason is unlikely to pass a medical on a foot injury this morning.

Falkirk, of course, will be on a high after having beaten Dundee 1-0 and they are liable to take full advantage should they sense any weaknesses in the Aberdeen side.

Joe Jordan, trying to guide Hearts towards a UEFA Cup place, doesn't expect Tosh McKinlay, Allan Preston, or Ally Mauchlen to make the game against Dundee United and with a couple of others also nursing injuries the manager will be relying heavily on George Wright and John Millar.

Elsewhere, Partick Thistle will be fighting for survival against St Johnstone at Firhill while Airdrie will be doing the same at Dens Park.

When told by the Scottish League that Motherwell could not muster enough healthy players to have a kickabout this afternoon -- the Fir Park side have 24 of their 32 registered players suffering from flu and injury -- Celtic agreed to play Clyde in a friendly at Parkhead (kick-off 2.0).

While Celtic keep themselves ticking over, Tommy Coyne will be making his debut for Tranmere against Leicester.

The striker finally completed his £350,000 transfer and said: "I'm delighted to be joining an ambitious club like Tranmere."

Taken from the Herald