ECK DOESN'T WANT TO END ON BUM NOTE

ALEX McLEISH last night borrowed the phrase coined by his mentor when he described Rangers' run-in as "squeaky-bum time".

Those words are now part of football language after Sir Alex Ferguson used them to describe a particularly trying time for Manchester United.

Rangers travel to Tyne-castle tomorrow and defeat would surely end their quest for second place.

McLeish said: "There's a new phrase in the dictionary - squeaky-bum time. I suppose it's appropriate to use that quote."

But Rangers do have a tendency to finish strongly and McLeish hopes it is a trend which continues in his last few furlongs as manager.

He said: "We have a strong squad and are on a decent wee run which helps with confidence.

"It's a big game for us and a difficult one away from home. A win for Hearts would make it more difficult for us.

"We have to go there and take the three points.

"I don't think it will be decided if we don't win it because there are a lot of games and head to heads still to come.

"I know from experience, and both sets of players will as well, that when gaps close you do tend to look over your shoulder.

"We have experienced difficulties over the past couple of years but have shown we can respond to pressure. We have been through it before.

"I'm not going to say anything to give you a headline like 'let's see how Hearts handle it'. But we'll concentrate on the way we're playing and take confidence from recent form.

"Last week's performance against Kilmarnock was excellent, hard on the heels of a European game.

"We want to finish the season on a high and get to the end undefeated. If we do that it gives us a good chance for second place."

McLeish attended Jimmy Johnstone's funeral yesterday and it was an occasion which clearly moved him.

He said: "It was a fantastic tribute and ceremony, if that's the right word.

"It was an amazing tribute to Jimmy from friends, family and the people who conducted the service.

"I'm sure his family would have been very proud of it. I met him on several occasions at Celtic Park.

"There was always a wee joke in him every time you met him.

"The stories today were just what you would have expected from Jimmy.

"Rangers and Celtic are big rivals but it's only a game.

"The rivalry should always exist but when you see the togetherness of people at an occasion like that you tend to think of it in really positive terms."

Taken from the Daily Record