Rangers face St Mirren in Scottish Cup 5th round tie

February 6, 2010

Rangers have been handed an injury boost as they prepare to take on St Mirren in their Scottish Cup fifth round tie.

The match will be the first of three games between the clubs in a month with the sides meeting in the League Cup final on March 21 as well as the Scottish Premier League.

Cup holders Rangers are on a great run of form lately and are unbeaten in their last 12 matches despite a horrendous injury list since the turn of the year.

Club manager Walter Smith has had to do without top-scorers Kris Boyd and Kenny Miller as well as American winger DaMarcus Beasley and his international teammate Maurice Edu.

However Smith was given a lift when Miller declared himself fit for the match against the ‘Buddies’ as Rangers aim to get to their sixth cup final in a row.

“I will join the boys for training today (Thursday) and hopefully come through that unscathed and be back in the plans for the St Mirren game,” Miller said.

“I feel fine and I just want to kick on for the rest of the season.

“It’s a fantastic achievement to have reached five cup finals in a row and it says a lot about the squad.

“To be that consistent in cup competitions is a big feat and hopefully we can take one step closer to reaching another one when we face St Mirren on Saturday.

“It will be another very tough match but we will go in to it with confidence.”

On Sunday Celtic face a tricky away tie to Dunfermline at East End Park.

Tony Mowbray’s side were dealt a midweek blow when they saw their title aspirations torn to shreds after a defeat to relegation-threatened Kilmarnock and the Scottish Cup could be their only realistic chance of silverware.

The Hoops boss brought in eight new players in the transfer window, including Spurs captain Robbie Keane, as he shipped a similar number out.

And after such a disappointing defeat he warned his stars – new and old – that they need to fight for their place in his side.

“You don’t see it sometimes, but apathy does creep into football, players who expect to be on the teamsheet every game,” Mowbray said.

“I’d like to think we’ve created a situation where nobody in the team now can expect to see their name on the sheet unless they are performing and contributing to a winning team.”

SPL high fliers Hibernian take on the country’s worst performing team at Easter Road in the form of Montrose.

Hibs, who sit third in the top division, should have no problems against a side that sit bottom of Division Three with just nine points from 20 games.

There is an all-SPL clash as St Johnstone face Dundee United at McDiarmid Park. Derek McInnes has urged his side to use the hurt of their midweek loss to Rangers in the League Cup semi-final to drive them in their clash against the SPL’s fourth-placed clash.

First Division side Raith Rovers host Aberdeen at Starks Park. The Dons will be glad to get away from Pittodrie after losing their last two league games there as they look to progress to the quarter-finals.

Buoyed by their midweek win over Celtic in the league Kilmarnock will look to put their relegation worries behind them as they face Terry Butcher’s Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Elsewhere on Saturday First Division leaders Dundee take on league strugglers Ayr United and in-form Ross County face Second Division Stirling Albion.

Fixtures (1500 GMT unless otherwise stated)

Saturday

Dundee v Ayr, Hibernian v Montrose, Kilmarnock v Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Raith Rovers v Aberdeen, Ross County v Stirling Albion, St Johnstone v Dundee United, St Mirren v Rangers (1230)

Sunday

Dunfermline v Celtic (1215)

GLASGOW (AFP)

Tags: Aberdeen, apathy, Boyd, captain Robbie Keane, cup competitions, damarcus beasley, Derek McInnes, Dundee, east end park, Easter Road, Glasgow, hoops, Kenny, kenny miller, Maurice, McDiarmid Park, premier league, realistic chance, Robbie Keane, Ross County, scottish cup, Scottish Premier League, shreds, spurs, st mirren, Starks Park, Stirling Albion, terry butcher, three games, title aspirations, tony mowbray, top scorers, walter smith

Davis keeps Rangers on title track

January 30, 2010

Steven Davis scored one and set up the other two as Rangers retained their 10-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League with a 3-0 win over bottom side Falkirk on Saturday.

In the early kick-off, Marc-Antoine Fortune had a penalty saved as Celtic struggled to a narrow 1-0 win over Hamilton at New Douglas Park to put some pressure on their Old Firm rivals.

Danish striker Morten Rasmussen, in only his second appearance for the club, scored two minutes after replacing Georgios Samaras to net his first Celtic goal since signing from Brondby before Tomas Cerny saved Fortune’s spot-kick after Mark McLaughlin was adjudged to have felled the striker.

However, if the Rangers players felt any pressure it never showed and Davis gave them the lead with a superbly hit free-kick before setting up John Fleck and Steven Whittaker to seal the win in the second period.

The league leaders, despite injuries to top-scorers Kris Boyd and Kenny Miller, were expected to run rampant against the team propping up the table but both sides were evenly matched in the opening period.

Danny Wilson had the first opportunity of the match in the 16th minute when he headed Sasa Papac’s floated cross goalward but Robert Olejnik got down low to his right to save.

The much-maligned Kyle Lafferty won a free-kick on the edge of the box after being hauled down by Brian McLean in the 18th minute and from the resultant free-kick Davis gave Rangers the lead.

The Northern Irish international scored his second in two games as he curled his kick into the top right-hand corner of the net.

Scott Arfield should have done better when he was played into the box by Vitor Lima but he hit his shot straight at Allan McGregor.

The Bairns came close to an equaliser when Ryan Flynn’s header from Jack Compton’s corner was cleared near the goal-line by Lafferty.

Rangers could have doubled their lead seconds after the break when Davis picked out Lafferty in the box with a cross from the right but the Northern Irishman headed high and wide under no pressure.

Falkirk had captain Darren Barr to thank two minutes for blocking Nacho Novo’s shot when he bravely threw himself in front of his rasping effort.

The Spaniard and Lafferty both sent shots flying over the bar before Davis set up Fleck to make it 2-0 in the 57th minute.

The midfielder raced down the right wing and cut into the box before firing the ball across goal to the back post where Fleck was on hand to knock in his first league goal of the season.

Rangers fans didn’t have to wait long for their side’s next goal in the 62nd minute and once again Davis had a hand in it.

He sent a pass to Whittaker who controlled it with his back to goal before spinning his marker and racing into the box to fire low past Olejnik.

Elsewhere Hibernian scored a last minute goal to beat St Mirren 2-1 to stay third, Motherwell thrashed Aberdeen 3-0, Kilmarnock and Dundee United ended 4-4 and Jim Jefferies return to Hearts ended in a 1-0 defeat away to St Johnstone.

GLASGOW (AFP)

Tags: Aberdeen, arfield, bairns, bottom side, Boyd, brian mclean, brondby, captain Darren Barr, cerny, danny wilson, Davis, Douglas Park, Dundee, Falkirk, free kick, Glasgow, Hamilton, irish international, jim jefferies, John Fleck, Kenny, kenny miller, kilmarnock, marc antoine fortune, mark mclaughlin, Morten Rasmussen, northern irish, Northern Irishman, olejnik, premier league, Robert Olejnik, samaras, sasa papac, Scott Arfield, Scottish Premier League

Rangers hope to cruise to title

January 30, 2010

Steven Davis believes Rangers’ easing injury list means they can maintain their 10-point lead over Celtic in the race for the Scottish Premier League title.

The Northern Irish midfielder was on target for the first time this season in Wednesday’s 2-0 win over St Mirren which saw Rangers increase their advantage at the top.

Victory came as Celtic were slumping to a 2-1 home defeat to Hibernian.

Rangers, who face relegation-haunted Falkirk on Saturday, had looked a little threadbare in recent weeks due to injuries and suspensions to key players.

Davis and his teammates had to rely on a last minute goal to rescue a point against Hearts last weekend as Walter Smith called-up several youth players.

However Nacho Novo, Kenny Miller, Steven Naismith and Pedro Mendes all returned in the midweek win over St Mirren and Davis believes this can boost their title hopes.

“These are difficult times for us at the moment with the number of injuries we have. This month, in particular, has been quite hard for the boys,” Davis said.

“But the boys who have come in have given the manager something to think about and we are starting to get a couple of players back. We have been missing a couple of important players recently and it will be good for us to get them back fit and get going again.”

Davis added: “We had a great run in December, but since then we have had injuries and suspensions and the manager has had to chop and change the side about. That can be disruptive.

“If we get everybody back fit it gives the manager a headache, a selection problem. Hopefully we can start playing better. We are capable of playing better.”

Kenny Miller may struggle to make the match against bottom club Falkirk after going off against St Mirren with a recurrence of his hamstring injury and top scorer Kris Boyd is still out.

Old Firm rivals Celtic head to New Douglas Park to take on Hamilton on the back of a costly defeat to Hibs.

Coach Tony Mowbray has stated that his side need to start winning games with his side only having claimed one victory so far this month and he will be boosted by the news several players have returned to training.

Scott McDonald, Mark Wilson and Shaun Maloney are all pushing for a top team return but the game against Hamilton may come too soon.

The Hoops boss might also be without Daniel Fox who is on the verge of joining English Premier League Burnley, but new signings Ki Sung-Yeung, Jos Hoovield and Morten Rasmussen, who made his debut against Hibs, are all available.

Elsewhere on Saturday only goal difference separates Aberdeen and Motherwell who meet at Pittodrie.

High-flying Hibs host St Mirren at Easter Road. John Hughes’ side sit in third-place, just two points behind Celtic, and any slip up from the Hoops could find Hibs climbing into the Champions League places.

Rugby Park is the destination for Peter Houston in his first game after being confirmed as Dundee United manager until the end of the season.

Kilmarnock are just one point above the relegation zone and are yet to win in the league under Jimmy Calderwood.

St Johnstone welcome a Hearts team looking to bounce back from their midweek thrashing at the hands of Aberdeen to McDiarmid Park.

Fixtures (1500 GMT unless otherwise stated)

Saturday

Aberdeen v Motherwell, Hamilton v Celtic (1230), Hibernian v St Mirren, Kilmarnock v Dundee United, Rangers v Falkirk, St Johnstone v Hearts

GLASGOW (AFP)

Tags: Aberdeen, bottom club, Boyd, coach tony, daniel fox, Davis, difficult times, Douglas Park, Dundee, Falkirk, Glasgow, Hamilton, jimmy calderwood, john hughes, kenny miller, Mark Wilson, McDiarmid Park, midfielder, minute goal, Morten Rasmussen, motherwell, pedro mendes, Peter Houston, premier league, Rugby Park, scott mcdonald, Scottish Premier League, selection problem, Shaun Maloney, st mirren, Steven Davis, steven naismith, Sung-Yeung, suspensions, target, tony mowbray, top scorer, top victory, walter smith

Levein wants Ferguson back in Scotland squad

January 26, 2010

Scotland manager Craig Levein is aiming to convince former captain Barry Ferguson to return to international duty along with Allan McGregor and Kris Boyd.

Levein, whose first game in charge is an international friendly against the Czech Republic on March 3, has confirmed Boyd and McGregor are in his thoughts after discussions with the Rangers duo.

Now he hopes he can have a similar conversation with former Rangers midfielder Ferguson, now playing under former Gers boss Alex McLeish at English Premier League Birmingham City.

“I very much want him to be part of the international set-up, I think he’s one of our best players,” Levein told BBC Radio Scotland on Monday.

Ferguson and Rangers goalkeeper McGregor were banned for life for their behaviour before and during a World Cup qualifier against Iceland in April.

The pair were dropped after an all-night drinking session and then made V signs at photographers from the bench.

Boyd withdrew when former manager George Burley was in charge after being overlooked repeatedly.

Meanwhile former Dundee United manager Levein will look to expand Scotland’s player pool by compiling an extensive dossier of eligible players.

Levein and scout Michael Oliver plan to contact every agent in the UK in a bid to assess who could qualify for the country, either through established bloodline or the new five-year school rule.

“What we are trying to do is establish everybody – in the UK first and foremost – who is eligible to play for Scotland,” Levein told www.scottishfa.co.uk.

“In the past, we’ve relied on word of mouth or maybe speaking to managers, coaches and, sometimes, even physios down in England who say ‘Do you know so-and-so has a Scottish grandmother?’.

“In the past we’ve had some fantastic players for Scotland who were born in England but qualified through parentage or grandparents.

“The rules are there and every other country in the world uses them.

“My main aim is to help Scotland qualify for the European Championships in 2012 and, in order to achieve that, I think that the player database is a fairly sensible idea.

“I want the best players available and, to get the best players available, we need to know who they are and where they are.”

Scotland have not qualified for the finals of a major tournament since the 1998 World Cup in France.

GLASGOW (AFP)

Tags: alex mcleish, Allan McGregor, barry ferguson, birmingham city, bloodline, Boyd, captain barry, captain Barry Ferguson, craig levein, czech republic, drinking session, Dundee, dundee united, eligible players, England, English, English Premier League, european champions, Ferguson, first game, former rangers, France, george burley, Glasgow, Iceland, michael oliver, parentage, player pool, radio scotland, rangers, scotland, scottishfa, world cup qualifier

Little looking for Gers chance

January 24, 2010

Striker Andrew Little hopes he can force his way into Walter Smith’s first team plans after coming off the bench to rescue a point for Rangers in a 1-1 draw with Hearts at Ibrox.

The Northern Irish international replaced Kirk Broadfoot with 12 minutes remaining and popped up in stoppage to stab home the equaliser and keep Rangers’ ten-month unbeaten league record at home intact.

Teenager Scott Robinson had given Hearts the lead in the 75th minute just 90 seconds after Christian Nade saw red for his second bookable offence.

A spirited performance from the Jambos defence looked to have sealed the win before Little struck his first club for the club. It was only the striker’s fifth appearance of the season since he made his debut against Celtic in October.

The Ibrox side’s options up front are limited with injuries to Kris Boyd, Kenny Miller, Nacho Novo and Steven Naismith.

And Little, who was delighted to get off the mark for the Old Firm side, said the injury crisis and the current financial problems surrounding the club could present him and fellow youngsters with a chance to grab a starting role.

“The squad at the minute is very thin and it works in favour for me as hopefully I’ll get a few more chances,” Little said. “I really enjoy getting my few bits and pieces on the pitch recently so on a personal level hopefully I can get more and more game time but for the sake of the team we want all of those boys back as soon as possible really.

“The financial situation is not ideal but it’s certainly good for the young boys coming through. With a few of us getting a bit more of a chance it motivates them and pushes them on a bit.

“I’m trying to be as confident as I can and when I get to play up front I’m looking to score goals. It wasn’t as if it was anything special. It’s broken to me and if I’d have missed it then it would’ve been a bad miss.

“It’s up to me really that when I do get my 10 or 15 minutes here or there that I try to make an impact and I suppose scoring a goal is a good way to do that.

“First and foremost I want to push on and become a first team regular.”

The point takes Rangers ten points clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League although rivals Celtic have two games in hand, starting with their match against St Johnstone on Sunday.

But Little said his team-mates were disappointed not to get the win and open a 12 point advantage to pile the pressure on their Old Firm rivals.

“That was the aim. We knew today was going to be hard. Hearts were always going to come her e and make it difficult for us and unfortunately we didn’t create as many chances as we might have liked in the second-half,” the striker added.

“But there’s a long way to go and every game is just as big as every other game so hopefully we can get a good run like we did in December and push on.” Rangers’ coach Smith refused to use the injury crisis at Ibrox as an excuse for the dropped points against Hearts and praised the youngsters who were asked to fill in.

“Injuries happen to all the teams throughout the season and you have to cope with that,” Smith said. “The difficulty that all the teams have, and we’re having at the present moment, is that you have to pitch people in who haven’t been playing on a regular basis and they’re not always up to full match sharpness.

“It is an awkward situation for the younger boys coming in to handle this for the simple reason they haven’t played a lot of games throughout the season.”

Rangers face St Mirren away on Wednesday before taking on Falkirk at Ibrox on Saturday and Smith hopes to have DaMarcus Beasley and Steven Naismith along with Pedro Mendes available for the match.

GLASGOW (AFP)

Tags: bits and pieces, bookable offence, Boyd, broadfoot, Christian Nade, equaliser, Falkirk, fifth appearance, financial situation, game time, Glasgow, injury crisis, irish international, kenny miller, Kirk Broadfoot, nacho novo, northern irish, pedro mendes, personal level, premier league, scott robinson, spirited performance, steven naismith, stoppage, walter smith, young boys

Whittaker wants to be Rangers spearhead

January 23, 2010

Steven Whittaker has told Rangers manager Walter Smith he can be the answer to the Ibrox club’s striker crisis as they prepare to face Hearts at Ibrox on Saturday.

The utility man struck a double in extra-time at Ibrox on Tuesday to sink Hamilton’s Scottish Cup hopes.

The win booked their place in the last 16 of the competition but came at a price with forwards Nacho Novo and Kenny Miller both limping out with injuries.

And with top scorer Kris Boyd already out following a hernia operation and Steven Naismith still struggling for fitness it leaves Smith with few options up front.

It means youngsters John Fleck or Andrew Little could partner Kyle Lafferty, who has shaken off a flu bug, although Novo has a fighting chance of making Saturday’s clash.

However Whittaker, who has struck eight goals this season, says he could fill in up front in a game that could see Rangers open up a 12-point lead at the top.

“In my younger days I played up front,” Whittaker said.

“I played off the front two when I was a youth player, but then I gradually worked my way wide to either right, left or full-back.

“I have filled in at various positions before for Rangers. It’s nice for other people to chip in with some goals – myself included. I’m now creeping up towards double figures and hopefully I can reach that before the end of the season – especially with some of the strikers injured.”

Hearts, who have recovered from a poor start to the season to occupy fifth spot, could welcome back Marius Zaliukas and Jose Gonclaves from injury but Craig Thomson is out following surgery.

Tony Mowbray takes his Celtic side to Perth to take on St Johnstone on Sunday.

The Hoops boss has come under fire following his side’s 1-1 draw with bottom club Falkirk last weekend which saw Celtic slip nine points behind Rangers, although they have a game in hand.

Mowbray is still without Scott Brown, Shaun Maloney, Daniel Fox and top scorer Scott McDonald through injury and captain Stephen McManus is also struggling.

However, central defenders Jos Hooiveld and Thomas Rogne could be in line to make their debuts and Ki Sung-Yeung will look to add to his impressive first showing against Falkirk.

Elsewhere on Saturday, interim Motherwell manager Craig Brown will be hoping his side can bounce back from their Scottish Cup defeat to First Division side Inverness Caledonian Thistle as they take on St Mirren at Fir Park.

Aberdeen welcome former manager Jimmy Calderwood, now in charge of Kilmarnock, back to Pittodrie for their clash with the Ayrshire side.

Hibernian will be aiming to regain third spot from Dundee United as they welcome Hamilton to Easter Road.

Fixtures (1500 GMT unless otherwise stated)

Saturday

Aberdeen v Kilmarnock, Hibernian v Hamilton, Motherwell v St Mirren (1230), Rangers v Hearts

Sunday

Falkirk v Dundee United (1315), St Johnstone v Celtic (1530)

GLASGOW (AFP)

Tags: Aberdeen, Andrew Little, bottom club, Boyd, captain stephen, captain Stephen McManus, celtic side, craig brown, Craig Thomson, daniel fox, Dundee, Easter Road, Falkirk, flu bug, Glasgow, hernia operation, jimmy calderwood, John Fleck, Jose, kenny miller, kyle lafferty, Marius, Scott Brown, scott mcdonald, scottish cup, Shaun Maloney, st johnstone, steven naismith, Sung-Yeung, Thomas Rogne, tony mowbray, utility man, walter smith, younger days, Zaliukas

Novo extends Rangers´ lead at the top

January 16, 2010

Rangers extended their lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League after Nacho Novo’s late strike secured a 1-0 win over Hamilton on Saturday.

Walter Smith’s side laboured for long periods at New Douglas Park before Novo finally broke the deadlock with 12 minutes.

The Spaniard’s goal allowed the defending champions to pull 10 points clear of second placed Celtic, but Tony Mowbray’s men can close the gap with a victory against Falkirk later on Saturday and also have another game in hand still to play.

Smith made three changes to the side held to a 3-3 draw by Hamilton in the Scottish Cup last Sunday. Kenny Miller and Lee McCulloch were both suspended and Kris Boyd was sidelined after undergoing groin surgery, with Novo, Kevin Thomson and Maurice Edu coming in.

Novo gave Rangers an early opening when he flicked on for Kyle Lafferty, but the Northern Ireland striker fired over under pressure from Hamilton goalkeeper Tomas Cerny.

Hamilton squandered a golden opportunity to take a shock lead when Simon Mensing slipped a pass through to Mickael Antoine-Curier, who touched on for Marco Paixao but he smashed his effort wide from close-range.

Mensing went even closer when he blasted a shot past Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor, only for Danny Wilson to clear off the line.

Antoine-Curier was a constant menace in the first half and he tried his luck with a powerful strike which flashed wide of the target.

Steven Davis shot over from just outside the area as Rangers struggled to find any fluidity before the break.

Smith would have demanded a far more dynamic display at half-time and Rangers were able to pile on more pressure after the break.

Steven Whittaker was close with a well-struck effort which whistled across the face of goal.

Whittaker had another chance when he collected a Davis ball out on the left only to shoot into the side-netting with a weak effort.

Lafferty should have done better than head over with a tame effort midway through the half.

Antoine-Curier was agonisingly close to putting Hamilton ahead moments later but his snap-shot just missed the target.

Paixao threatened with a superb overhead kick that was just off target and Rangers, having rode their luck, went ahead in the 78th minute.

Sasa Papac picked out substitute John Fleck and his shot was parried by Cerny to Novo, who squeezed home from an acute angle.

HAMILTON, Scotland (AFP)

Tags: Allan McGregor, Boyd, cerny, close range, curier, danny wilson, Davis, Douglas Park, dynamic display, Falkirk, fluidity, golden opportunity, Hamilton, John Fleck, kenny miller, kevin thomson, kyle lafferty, Lee McCulloch, long periods, Maurice, mensing, nacho novo, Northern Ireland, premier league, Scottish Premier League, target, Tomas Cerny, tony mowbray, walter smith, whittaker

Rangers striker Boyd out with groin injury

January 12, 2010

In-form Rangers striker Kris Boyd is facing a lengthy lay-off after sustaining a groin injury in the cup match against Hamilton, manager Walter Smith said.

The 26-year-old Boyd is to see a specialist and could under go a hernia operation that would keep him out for up to six weeks.

Smith told the Scottish Daily Express: “Boyd will undergo an operation as soon as possible.

“He will be out for up to six weeks and we will just have to cope accordingly.”

The striker, who has been in top goal-scoring form of late, now faces a race to be fit for the Old Firm clash against Celtic at Ibrox on February 28.

GLASGOW (AFP)

Tags: Boyd, celtic, clash, daily express, Express, Glasgow, groin injury, Hamilton, hernia operation, Ibrox, match, rangers, Scottish, six weeks, specialist, walter smith

Rangers urged to keep Boyd as Celtic challenge looms

January 3, 2010

Rangers midfielder Steven Davis has urged his club to ensure in-form striker Kris Boyd, in contract talks, remains at Ibrox beyond the January transfer window.

Boyd is on a hot streak having scored five goals in the midweek 7-1 crushing of Dundee United – a performance which saw him surpass former Celtic star Henrik Larsson as the all-time top goalscorer in the Scottish Premier League.

Last year Boyd was set to join Birmingham and more recently he has been linked with Newcastle, Trabzonspor and Kayserspor in Turkey and French club Sochaux.

“From the players’ point of view we think it’s vital that we keep hold of him,” said Davis.

“I don’t think there are many players who can guarantee you 20 goals-plus a season and Boydy’s done that since I’ve been here.

“I think he’s probably one of the most lethal finishers around and obviously we’re desperate to keep him here.”

Rangers visit city rivals Celtic in this season’s second Old Firm derby at Parkhead on Sunday in a game Tony Mowbray’s side can’t afford to lose.

A win for Rangers would see them open a ten point lead over the Hoops at the top of the Scottish Premier League, albeit Celtic have played a game less, as the season reaches the half-way stage.

Boyd has netted just one goal against Celtic in his career so far but Davis added: “The way he’s playing, if we can create the chances for him then nine times out of 10 he’ll score. Hopefully, he can do that at Parkhead for us.”

But the Gers will be missing Boyd’s strike partner Kenny Miller after he lost his appeal Thursday against a straight red card on Wednesday.

“Kenny’s been playing magnificently for us and he’s been one of our best players on the run we’ve been on and managed to get amongst the goals as well,” said Davis.

“So he’ll be a big miss for us. It gives the manager a little headache. Somebody else will come in and hopefully do a job for us.”

Manager Walter Smith says that Boyd’s form means he is likely to start for the first time in a match at Parkhead since the former returned to the club two years ago.

“Right at the present moment, the team is doing extremely well and I don’t envisage a situation where you would go along there and play without him.”

Aiding Boyd’s case is the fact that Nacho Novo and Sasa Papac are suffering from a sickness bug and Madjid Bougherra is off to the African Nations Cup with Algeria, hence Rangers’ firepower is severely depleted.

While Rangers and Celtic – 43 and 36 points under their belts to date – face off, third-placed Hibernian, four points further back, host Edinburgh rivals Hearts in Sunday’s other game.

Fixtures (1500 GMT unless otherwise stated)

Sunday

Celtic v Rangers (1230), Hibernian v Hearts

GLASGOW (AFP)

Tags: algeria, Boyd, celtic star, city rivals, contract talks, Davis, Dundee, dundee united, Edinburgh, french club, Glasgow, Henrik Larsson, hoops, hot streak, Kenny, kenny miller, kris, Manager Walter Smith, NEWCASTLE, nine times, parkhead, point of view, premier league, rangers, Scottish Premier League, sochaux, Steven Davis, tony mowbray, trabzonspor, Turkey, walter smith

Rangers hand Motherwell six of best

December 19, 2009

Doubles from Kenny Miller and substitute Kyle Lafferty gave Rangers a 6-1 win over Motherwell which extended their lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League on Saturday.

Miller followed up his double in the 3-0 win over Dundee United on Tuesday with two super strikes either side of Kris Boyd’s 13th goal of the season.

Shaun Hutchinson pulled one back for Motherwell with a bullet header but it was just a consolation as Lafferty netted either side of a DaMarcus Beasley strike to seal an emphatic win.

With rivals Celtic not playing Hearts until Sunday it gives Rangers a four- point advantage at the top.

Walter Smith made two changes from the side which swept past Dundee United on Tuesday with Allan McGregor returning in goal and Kevin Thomson replacing Lee McCulloch.

For the second week in succession Rangers got an early lead at Ibrox when Miller scored after just four minutes.

The Motherwell defenders were static as Steven Davis teed up Miller at the edge of the box and he curled his first-time shot into the net off the crossbar.

Steven Saunders came to Motherwell’s rescue three minutes later when he twice cleared Boyd shots off the line.

Kirk Broadfoot was next to be given time and space in the Motherwell half and he fired a long-range effort just wide of John Ruddy’s post.

Thomson’s return from injury lasted just 20 minutes as he trundled off to be replaced by McCulloch following an ankle knock.

A good passing move resulted in Davis picking out Miller in the box but after turning his marker he sent a left-foot shot high and wide.

Lukas Jutkiewicz flashed a header across goal and Steven Jennings fired just wide as Motherwell grew in confidence.

Sasa Papac missed a golden chance to score on the stroke of half-time after Nacho Novo found him in space in the box but he sent a shot straight at Ruddy which the keeper blocked with his legs.

Boyd doubled the lead in the 53rd minute.

Davis played a perfect pass into the path of the Scottish Premier League’s top-scorer and he got in front of Hutchinson to fire it low past the out-rushing Ruddy.

Miller got his second five minutes later.

The Scotland striker chased down Madjid Bougherra’s long ball over the top before finishing from a tight angle to score his fifth goal in three league games.

Motherwell pulled one back with their first shot on target in the 67th minute.

Hutchinson found himself unmarked in the six-yard box to bullet a header past McGregor from Tom Hately’s corner.

Lafferty replaced Boyd in the 70th minute and it took him just five minutes to get on the score-sheet.

Miller played in Broadfoot and the right-back’s pass across goal was met by the Northern Irish international who tapped in from two yards out.

Miller was involved again as Beasley scored the fifth in the 84th minute.

The Scotland striker played a pass down the wing and the American held off Mark Reynolds to slot past Ruddy from an acute angle.

A mistake from Ruddy helped Rangers make it 6-1 with two minutes left.

The keeper rushed out his box to attempt to clear a long ball from Beasley but Lafferty got there first and fired the ball through the legs of Ruddy to get his second of the game.

GLASGOW (AFP)