Rangers must ´write off´ Euro loss, focus on League

December 12, 2009

Kenny Miller has told his Rangers team-mates to forget about their European nightmare if they want to retain the Scottish Premier League title.

The Ibrox side ended a dismal Champions League campaign on Wednesday as they slumped to a 1-0 away defeat to Sevilla.

It was Walter Smith’s side fourth loss as they ended Group G with just two points, the worst tally of any Scottish team to have competed in the competition.

The defeat also means the Scottish champions have now gone a club record of 11 European matches without a win.

However, things are brighter on the domestic front, where the current champions sit just two points behind leaders Celtic, with a game in hand.

Rangers take on St Johnstone on Saturday but could find themselves even further behind in the race for the championship if Celtic can claim victory in the early kick-off match at Motherwell.

Miller says it is vital the Gers don’t dwell on their continental form if they are to harbour any hopes of being crowned SPL champions.

“We have to forget about the European campaign now. All we can do is just write it off,” the striker said.

“We cannot let the European disappointments this season linger for any time at all. Hopefully we can go back and win the league again. That’s a big thing now for the club and the fans.”

Tough games away to Dundee United and Hibernian await Rangers after this weekend’s match before the Old Firm derby in January and the Scotland international knows they will be crucial in the club’s bid to make it two titles in a row.

“We have a hard month now in the SPL,” Miller said.

“We start on Saturday with St Johnstone at Ibrox and then we’ve four more big games in December. There’s also an Old Firm game at New Year and then the Scottish Cup starts.

“So I think we are entering a crucial period over the next five weeks. We have tough matches scheduled but if we take a lot of points from these games – against sides who are challenging us – we will be in with a real shout of winning the title again.”

Gers boss Smith could welcome back Kris Boyd, who missed the match in Sevilla with a thigh strain, but will still be without Kirk Broadfoot and Maurice Edu for the visit of Derek McInnes’ side.

Celtic can pile the pressure on Rangers by moving five points clear at the top with a win away to Motherwell.

Shaun Maloney and Scott Brown are out with long-term injuries as the Hoops begin a run of three away games in a row against Jim Gannon’s side at Fir Park.

In Saturday’s other games, Hearts take on Dundee United minus captain Michael Stewart, Suso Santana, Ian Black and Eggert Jonsson, who were all sent off in last week’s defeat to Hamilton.

Hibernian hope to keep up with the leaders with a game away to Kilmarnock, Aberdeen host Hamilton while St Mirren take on bottom club Falkirk.

Fixtures

Saturday (1500GMT unless otherwise stated)

Aberdeen v Hamilton, Hearts v Dundee United, Kilmarnock v Hibernian, Motherwell v Celtic (1245GMT), Rangers v St Johnstone, St Mirren v Falkirk

GLASGOW (AFP)

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