Rangers surprised destiny of title is in their hands

Published on Saturday 23 May 2009 11:18

RANGERS manager Walter Smith is surprised the destiny of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title is in their own hands heading into the final day of the season.

The Ibrox side head into the weekend action two points clear of rivals Celtic and knowing a win at Dundee United would guarantee them the championship.

Defeat in December's Old Firm derby had seen Rangers fall seven points behind Celtic and Smith feared at that stage their hopes of being crowned champions were over.

As his side stand on the brink of ending Celtic's dominance of Scottish football, he confessed: "I was a bit surprised, after the Old Firm result at the end of December, that we managed to get into this position.

"Celtic have shown terrific consistency over the last few seasons so I felt it would be difficult for us to get back. But we have done and we are pleased we are now in the position that we're in.

"If you had said to us after the Old Firm game when we went seven points behind Celtic, would we be happy to be in this position, we would obviously have taken it."

Success would also guarantee direct entry to the group stages of the Champions League and a 10million jackpot for a club who have publicly admitted a need to balance the books.

But Smith added: "The most important thing from a footballing sense is to win, to achieve.

"That's what we set out to do at the start of the season, we are in a position to do it now, and that's the most important thing for us.

"If we started to think about all the other aspects, it may weigh too heavily on us.

"It's got to be looked upon as a competitive game that we've got to try to win."

Experience could be crucial at Tannadice and Madjid Bougherra – cleared by the SFA to play this weekend – would love to see deposed skipper Barry Ferguson involved.

Ferguson made his first appearance since being stripped of the captaincy and banned by the club for his role in 'Boozegate' against Aberdeen last week.

And Bougherra believes the experienced midfielder could be crucial in their biggest game of the season.

He said: "He came back last week against Aberdeen and he pushed the team with his experience. I was very pleased to see him back.

"He keeps the responsibility of the captain because he pushed the team at half-time. Yes, he is key for us."

The defender added: "The team is focused because many times we have gone first and then went back. Now we need to win.

"The training is good because the atmosphere is cool, it is relaxed. We can't see the pressure now."

Morgaro Gomis watched Rangers claim the Co-operative Insurance Cup last season, before witnessing Celtic win the title on the last day at Tannadice.

And he is determined to see United celebrate this time as they attempt to claim the point that will guarantee them European football next term.

"The CIS Cup final left everyone here with sad memories because we felt we played the better football but lost the game in the end," said the midfielder.

"We had to stand and watch Rangers celebrating and taking the trophy away with them when we thought that it should've been us.

"Last season we also had to watch Celtic dancing around Tannadice with the SPL trophy and that's not a good feeling either."