Smith breaks the rule and looks at treble chance

IAN PAUL

2 Apr 1993

PERHAPS it was the sunshine on the Ayrshire coast that inspired his decision, but Walter Smith of Rangers made a welcome departure from the managers' rule book and instead looked beyond the next game to what could be achieved on the domestic front by the time this long season is over.

As he chatted, it became clear that the bad news for clubs chasing the Ibrox tail is that the desire to succeed is no less fervent as a result of considerable triumphs in recent seasons.

He and his team have a domestic treble in their sights, and Smith is willing to admit that it is a target which he believes all big teams covet as proof of their prowess.

"After such a long run of games it would be nice to finish with the treble," he said.

"To everybody here it would mean a great deal.

All big clubs have historical backgrounds and people remember treble-winners from different eras.

If the 1992-93 team could be remembered that way, it would be a big thing for all of us."

Smith explained his willingness to discuss the possibility of the collection of all three Scottish titles -- the championship, Skol Cup, and Tennents Scottish Cup -- simply enough: "I don't think we have been in the position to get there, never mind talk about it.

Now it is a feature of our season.

"Even in recent times, under Jock Wallace there were a couple of treble-winning sides.

Celtic's European Cup win seems to have weighed heavily on the teams that have succeeded them and, although the treble success doesn't weigh heavily on us, it is always in the background."

Rangers have won the Skol Cup and even the cautious Smith sees the title now well within the Ibrox grasp.

The cup semi-final against Hearts remains the last hurdle before they can look forward to a second successive final and one more game between them and the threesome.

None of this is an indication that the Ibrox manager is overlooking the challenge of the Edinburgh team, whom he predicted at the start of the season to do well.

"They are well organised and ever since Joe Jordan took over they have been hard to beat.

They don't lose goals easily and they are very dangerous at set pieces."

Rangers will go into the tie without Alexei Mikhailichenko but otherwise should have a full squad available.

One certain starter, of course, is Mark Hateley, whose itinerant playing history entitles him to a laid-back attitude to big occasions, a stark contrast to his approach once the whistle blows.

He is also giving some thought to the treble.

"If we want to achieve what we are aiming at, all the domestic trophies, the semi-final is another hurdle on the way.

It is a game you don't need motivating for."

However, Hateley reckons the secret of his side's success has been the one-game-at-a-time pattern.

"It means we don't worry about anything except the game coming up.

But hopefully we have two trophies tucked away.

We did the double last year and we will be disappointed if we don't do better this time.

Europe is a bonus."

But if Hateley and his colleagues have clear targets so, too, does Aberdeen's Stewart McKimmie, who had been tempted to write off his season not so long ago.

After having been out of action for six months because of a knee injury -- he missed the Skol Cup final -- the international full back now sees a chance of a big finish to make amends for many weeks of frustration.

"I'd never had such a serious injury in my career and made it worse by trying to come back too soon," he said.

"Patience isn't my strong suit.

If I'd listened to the medical people and let nature take its course, I would have been playing three months ago.

"I never thought I'd kick a ball for the first team again this season again.

But even though we've beaten Hibs four times this season, that will mean nothing.

A semi-final is a one-off and an entirely different proposition and Hibs will be looking to use the Cup to get back into Europe.

"But if we play to our potential, I expect us to be meeting Rangers again in another final."

Hibs and Hearts would have something to say about that, of course, and two of their key men would love to think that the outcome of the weekend action would be an all-Edinburgh final.

They don't minimise the tasks in front of them.

"People keep telling me that Rangers are jaded but they haven't looked that way to me in the two games against Aberdeen and Dundee during the last week," said Craig Levein.

"They are able to call on so many players of quality and still look a strong side.

It's a difficult tie, especially in Glasgow.

"However, if we can play up to our best, then I believe Rangers can be beaten."

Hibs scored three times against Rangers in a 4-3 home league defeat earlier in the season and 26-year-old Darren Jackson had this hint for neighbours Hearts: "We were able to get the ball over their back four and in behind them, and getting their defenders turning did upset their normal composure."

While that's going on at Parkhead, Tynecastle will be packed for Aberdeen's visit, their second journey south this week after Tuesday's league defeat at Ibrox.

"I think having to play that match in midweek will help us," continued Jackson.

"It was a particularly taxing match for Aberdeen.

"We haven't beaten Aberdeen this season but we played as well as in any game for 80 minutes of the recent 2-1 defeat at Easter Road."

The 100-30 available against Hibs and 4-1 about Hearts illustrate the odds stacked against an all-Edinburgh final, but Jackson and Levein argue: "Glasgow has had its share of glory.

It would be a wonderful lift for the game in the city." We will see.

Taken from the Herald