RANGERS head into tonight's crucial Premier League match with St Mirren knowing the safety-first philosophy that has taken them this far in the title race and, as recently as last week had them chasing a quadruple, will almost certainly have to be abandoned. A win at Love Street will keep their pursuit of the championship alive, but only a comprehensive victory will drag its destiny back into their hands alone.
Saturday's 1-1 draw at Motherwell eliminated any points advantage over Celtic that they could have taken into the final round of fixtures on Thursday evening. Then, Rangers travel to play Aberdeen at Pittodrie, while Celtic face Dundee United at Tann
adice with Gordon Strachan's side currently enjoying a seven-goal advantage in the goal-difference column.
The might of the Old Firm presents the expectation that each will win their remaining fixtures. That would leave them tied at the top of the table on 89 points and make goal difference all important.
The shift in Rangers' tactical emphasis was evident at Fir Park on Saturday, when the fit-again Lee McCulloch replaced Sasa Papac in the starting line-up and, along with Nacho Novo, supported forward Daniel Cousin in a 4-5-1 formation that easily converted into a 4-3-3 when Rangers had possession.
Still their goal came from Christian Dailly, playing in a holding midfield role, with Smith's side looking short of ideas in attack, as if the defensive mindset employed against Zenit St Petersburg in the Uefa Cup final only three days before had taken a permanent grip of the players' thought process.
A multiple-goal victory in Paisley tonight is now essential but should not be expected. Yes, St Mirren have little other than professional pride – and a ninth-placed finish – to play for, but Gus MacPherson's team have been obdurate opponents for Rangers at Love Street since returning to the Premier League two years ago, never losing by more than a single goal. Even the 4-0 defeat at Ibrox in January was due at least in part to defender Will Haining being sent off after 30 minutes.
Rangers midfielder Charlie Adam, who spent a year on loan at St Mirren as they won the First Division title in 2005/6, expects a tough match.
"We won't take it for granted and I know every St Mirren player won't take the game for granted," he said. "To beat Rangers would be a big thing for them before going on holiday. We know it's going to be tough. They have had another fantastic season so it will be hard but we will be looking for the right result. If we go there and approach the game right, I don't see why we shouldn't win the game."
The Premier League run-in is fast resembling the final few nail-biting fixtures of the 2002/3 season, when both halves of the Old Firm required to pursue goals with the persistence of hunting hounds. No mercy could be shown to their opponents on the field, as Dundee found out when they lost 6-2 to Martin O'Neill's team at Celtic Park in the penultimate league fixture of the season.
That hauled them level with Alex McLeish's Rangers not only on points but also on goal difference at plus-68. Dunfermline and Kilmarnock were the lambs to the slaughter on the final day shootout, with Rangers' 6-1 win over the former at Ibrox bettering Celtic's 4-0 win at Rugby Park and giving them the title by one goal. It also led to accusations from Chris Sutton that "we knew they'd (Dunfermline] lie down", which were as misplaced as the Alan Thompson penalty against Kilmarnock that might have landed Celtic the title in any case.
The other parallel between this season and that of five years ago, of course, is the run to the Uefa Cup final firstly by Celtic in 2003 and then by Rangers this season. Each side suffered a backlog of fixtures, each side lost the Uefa Cup final. With Celtic also missing out on the title five years ago, Rangers must strive to end the coincidences there.
For that to happen, the most likely course of action will be for Rangers to defeat both St Mirren and Aberdeen while Celtic do no better than draw at Tannadice. Again, it is not necessary to leaf too far back in the history books for an example of such a trauma for the Parkhead club.
In 2005, Celtic needed 'only' to win at Motherwell to edge out Rangers, who required a win against Hibernian at Easter Road before crossing their fingers of a slip-up by their Glasgow rivals. The day began ominously for the Celtic support, though, with news emerging that the adored O'Neill was to leave the club in the summer to care for his ill wife, Geraldine, with Gordon Strachan due to take over the managerial reins.
All seemed well when Sutton put Celtic ahead in the first half and the title should have been wrapped up when Craig Bellamy, on loan from Newcastle, failed to convert a gilt-edged chance in the second period. News filtered through of a Nacho Novo goal for Rangers at Easter Road, meaning a Motherwell equaliser would send the title to Ibrox. Scott McDonald went one better, scoring twice in the last three minutes for Terry Butcher side.
Should Dundee United's players require motivation on Thursday night, perhaps emulating McDonald and earning a lucrative move to Celtic within two years will be enough. Rangers might have to hope so.
Odds story of how Ibrox side have drifted from 1-14 'certainties' to 3-15 APRIL
RANGERS' ODDS: 1-14
CELTIC'S ODDS: 8-1
Celtic lose 1-0 at home to Motherwell, and as Gordon Strachan's dejected team leave the pitch to a cacophony of boos, it appears that the title is on its way to Ibrox. Bookmakers react accordingly and slice Rangers' odds to 1-14, with Celtic's price of 8-1 taking on the look of no-hopers in a two-horse race.
6 APRIL
RANGERS 1-10
CELTIC 7-1
Rangers fight back three times to earn a draw against Dundee United at Tannadice, and while it gives Celtic a glimmer of hope, the battling qualities only seem to underline the determination of Walter Smith's title to secure the title.13 APRIL
RANGERS 1-8
CELTIC 9-2
ONE of Celtic's best performances of the season, a comprehensive 4-1 win away to Motherwell, keeps their spirits up for the Old Firm double-header.16 APRIL
RANGERS 1-5
CELTIC 7-2
Rangers lose 2-1 to Celtic at Parkhead and the title race is not over yet, although Strachan's side still appear to have a mountain to climb.19 APRIL
RANGERS 1-4
CELTIC 11-4
Celtic ride their luck to beat Aberdeen 1-0, with Zander Diamond's disallowed goal allowing them to live to fight another day in the title race. 27 APRIL
RANGERS 4-9
CELTIC 13-8
Celtic ensure the race stays alive and kicking by getting their second Old Firm win in succession, Barry Robson's 70th-minute penalty securing three points which were simply a must.3 MAY
RANGERS 4-7
CELTIC 11-8
Strachan's side come from behind to beat Motherwell 2-1.4 MAY
RANGERS 8-11
CELTIC Evens
A sluggish Rangers side, tired after eliminating Fiorentina in the Uefa Cup semi-finals, stutter to a 0-0 draw with Hibs at Easter Road.7 MAY
RANGERS 4-6
CELTIC 11-10
On a nervy night at Ibrox, Rangers' captain Barry Ferguson hooks in a spectacular second-half goal to break down the stubborn resistance of a Motherwell side they must face again at Fir Park before the season ends.10 MAY
RANGERS 8-13
CELTIC 5-4
A controversial, yet crucial win for Rangers as they beat Dundee United 2-1 at Ibrox, helped by a couple of fortuitous refereeing decisions. The pressure is back on Celtic to beat Hibs in their final home fixture of the campaign.11 MAY
RANGERS 8-11
CELTIC Evens
Celtic keep up the pressure by overcoming Hibs 2-0 at Parkhead.17 MAY
CELTIC 1-4
RANGERS 3-1
A hammer-blow to Rangers' title hopes as they follow their Uefa Cup final defeat to Zenit, with a 1-1 draw against Motherwell at Fir Park, dropping two points. The championship initiative is with Celtic, who – barring a major goal difference swing – will make it three SPL flags in a row if they beat Dundee United at Tannadice on Thursday.
The full article contains 1451 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
