Bougherra buy softened Cuellar blow, admits Weir

Published on Wednesday 19 November 2008 21:52

DAVID Weir has paid tribute to fellow Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra for successfully filling the void left by Carlos Cuellar.

Ibrox supporters were furious when player of the year Cuellar was sold to Aston Villa for 7.8million in August, fearing his departure would have a detrimental effect on Rangers' title hopes.

But the Spanish centre-half has all but been forgotten at Ibrox just a few short months later thanks to the form of Bougherra at the heart of defence.

Bougherra was recruited from Charlton in the summer and the Algerian has yet to put a foot wrong since being catapulted into the team alongside Weir, combining for seven clean sheets in 15 appearances.

"Replacing Carlos was going to be hard for whoever was asked to do that and they have been big boots to fill," said veteran defender Weir.

"But Madjid has come in and taken to things straight away. He deserves great credit for that.

"It's a big compliment to him that he has made the fans forget about Carlos very quickly.

"That was a big ask but he has done it. He keeps things simple and that is the nature of being a defender. He has good habits and has been a good addition."

Bougherra was absent from last week's win over St Mirren at Ibrox but looks set to return for the visit of Aberdeen in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League this weekend.

For Weir, the visit of the Dons prompts memories of a disallowed DaMarcus Beasley goal at Pittodrie back in August, which television footage showed should have stood.

Referee Craig Thomson's decision to follow the advice of his assistant Billy Baxter meant Rangers had to settle for a 1-1 draw but Weir insists there is no point dwelling on what might have been.

"We should have won back then and would have deserved to," he said.

"That was the case at Motherwell last week as well. Sadly we can't do anything about those results now and it's for other people to speculate and talk about what might have been.

"We just need to make every game we play from now until the end of the season count for something instead."

Aberdeen suffered an indifferent start to the season, largely due to their home form as it took them six attempts to register a victory at Pittodrie, but Jimmy Calderwood's side have managed to claw themselves into the top half of the table ahead of the visit to Ibrox.

But Weir believes the Dons would pose a major threat to Rangers regardless of form or league status, despite not having won at Ibrox since 1991. They have, however, beaten Rangers in each of the last two seasons at Pittodrie.

Weir told Rangers News: "Aberdeen always raise their game when they play Rangers and that has been apparent over a period of time. We know we will have to match their desire to win.

"They have had a difficult start to the season but they've recovered from that and are pushing on and looking for a European place. Aberdeen are one of the league's bigger clubs and it's traditional that they challenge at the top end so we know they'll come here looking for something but we're hopeful."