The Gers Forum RSS Feed

    by Published on 12-03-2010 00:20
    Categories:
    1. The Match

    Six doors remain unopened on Rangers SPL title advent calendar after two second half goals secured what had at times appeared to be an unlikely victory at Rugby Park. The arrival of the twa Jimmies in the Killie dug-out has clearly given the home side a shot in the arm and the manner in which they set about their task suggested that they harboured every intention of emulating their victory over Celtic last month by claiming an even bigger Old Firm scalp.

    Rangers presented an unchanged line-up from the weekend’s win over St Mirren, with Danny Wilson continuing to deputise for Madjid Bougherra, who was rested as a precaution while he recovers from a hamstring injury. Allan Russell and James Fowler returned to the starting line-up for the hosts, while former Celtic sensation, David Fernandez watched from the bench.

    The opening exchanges were as scrappy as one might expect from a midweek contest at Rugby Park, with neither team being able to assert any real dominance on possession of the ball. Kenny Miller, Lee McCulloch and Kris Boyd all attempted to threaten the sanctity of Cammy Bell’s goal with varying levels of success before the first clear cut chance of the game fell to the home side. Alan McGregor – who appeared to be experimenting with Teflon-coated gloves for the evening – spilled a routine cross from Iain Flannigan. The visiting support watched in horror as Medhi Taouil seemed poised to burst the net from point-blank range but McGregor managed to redeem himself by smothering the Moroccan’s effort. Further Emu-esque antics from McGregor almost presented Manual Pascali with a gift a few minutes later but the Rangers keeper managed to gather at the second attempt.

    With the sides level at the interval, Calderwood must have been the happier of the two managers because Rangers had appeared both toothless upfront and shaky at the back in contrast with the doggedness of the home side. Killie were playing for SPL survival and this showed in the hunger of their first-half performance.

    One might suspect that Walter Smith planted his foot through a number of bahookeys during the interval because the Rangers who emerged for the second period had a much more purposeful look about them. Kris Boyd should have opened the scoring shortly after the restart when a Lee McCulloch flick-on left the goal gaping at the normally prolific hitman’s mercy. But Boyd failed to connect properly with the ball, leaving Jamie Hamill to make a relatively comfortable goal-line clearance.

    The breakthrough arrived on fifty-five minutes. Steven Whittaker has often looked less than convincing when under pressure as a full-back but the danger he poses opposition goalkeepers is now beginning to verge on the remarkable. Showing his strikers how it should be done, he latched onto a loose headed clearance from Tim Clancy, then waltzed through the Killie rear-guard before drilling the ball low beyond Bell with lethal precision. This was Whittaker’s 11th goal of the season in all competitions - a stat which was even deemed worthy of individual praise during his manager’s post-match interview.

    Six minutes later, the points were all but secured when Kenny Miller pounced on a spilled effort from Steve Davis to lash the ball high into the net beyond the despairing Bell. Predatory prowess has arguably never been Miller’s forte in years gone by, however this season he appears to have taken a leaf out of his striking partner's book of clinical finishing. Boyd on the other hand wasn’t altogether at the races himself. Just as in December against Dundee United, when everything he hit seemed to end up in the back of the net; the opposite was true against his former side – against whom he has an exceptional goalscoring record. In fairness to the big hitman, he had to feed off half chances at best throughout the evening and while his performance may have lacked goals, industry was present in abundance.

    Miller’s goal finally knocked the stuffing out of Kilmarnock and from that point onwards Rangers only looked likely to widen their lead. Boyd again and Novo both came close while a typically mazy run from Whittaker almost rewarded him with a second goal but he dragged his shot agonisingly wide of Bell’s post.

    Tuesday’s victory leaves Walter Smith’s men thirteen points clear of their nearest pursuers with less than a quarter of the league campaign left to play. Who would have predicted such a scenario at the end of last September, when Rangers had failed to score in three successive league games, or October, by which time a series of disappointing Champions League results threatened to decimate morale? That Walter Smith has overcome these setbacks whilst enduring incessant media speculation over his own future, amid a climate of boardroom volatility speaks volumes as to the calibre of the man. To the Rangers fans, Tuesday night represented taking one step closer to the championship – to Walter Smith, it was just another day at the office.
    by Published on 09-03-2010 16:26
    Categories:
    1. The Match

    Kilmarnock vs Rangers Scottish Premier League Rugby Park 9th March 2010 Kilmarnock will welcome an almost full strength ...
    by Published on 05-03-2010 23:35
    Categories:
    1. The Match

    St Mirren are the visitors to Ibrox this Saturday as Rangers continue their determined march towards a fifty-third Scottish Premier League title. In a move likely orchestrated via the machinations of innumerable layers of institutionally bigoted forces, Walter Smith’s men have the opportunity to temporarily extend their lead over the side currently occupying second place to a healthy thirteen points.

    In a week during which backpage headlines were once again largely dominated by the whingeing, attention-seeking antics of another club, a story altogether more pertinent to the question of how to resuscitate our ailing domestic game managed to slip somewhat under the radar. The League Reconstruction Debate is upon us once again as the SPL mulls-over the possibility of expanding to a sixteen team division. Saturday will herald the fifth meeting between Rangers and St Mirren so far this season, with one more fixture between the clubs still to be fulfilled in the League Cup Final. If St Mirren were somehow able to claw their way into the top six by the time the infamous split comes around, then a seventh meeting would be required. For the good of the game, something has to be done. It’s entertainment, Jim, but not as we know it.

    Out with the terminal borefest served-up over the course of the recent two-legged Scottish Cup tie; league meetings between Rangers and St Mirren have been tightly contested affairs to date this term. Gus McPherson – yet another of Walter’s former apprentices now managing at senior level – may not be the most popular figure among an element of St Mirren fans due to his tendency to favour pragmatism over flamboyant football - but he certainly knows how to set-out a team which is difficult to break down.

    Gers starlet Rory Loy will have to sit this game out for the Saints because of his status as a loan-signing and Jack Ross is also unavailable due to an ankle injury. Billy Mehmet and Andy Dorman will be the danger men for the visitors with both players possibly eyeing a move to more lucrative pastures during the summer window.

    Walter Smith might also make one or two changes to his side due to injury. Madjid Bougherra missed Algeria’s midweek game with a hamstring problem and if Boughie doesn’t play for his country then we know it must be bad. Danny Wilson will likely deputise beside Davie ‘Keano-in-my-pocket’ Weir, while Lee McCulloch may not be risked after sustaining a knock during last week’s victory. Goal-hero Maurice Edu will be hoping to be given the chance to emulate the fine form which he displayed during last year’s title run-in.

    The Rangers manager will no doubt have reminded his players that achieving victory over St Mirren is no less crucial than the three points taken from our nearest rivals last Sunday. Despite our comfortable lead, we absolutely do not want to provide the opposition with an unexpected chance to narrow the gap by dropping silly points, so a focused professional performance against St Mirren is a must.

    News Now

    Latest