Title pain will inspire Rangers, says Beasley

Published on Tuesday 27 May 2008 10:17

RANGERS winger DaMarcus Beasley has revealed that missing out on the Scottish Premier League title on the final day in controversial circumstances has made Walter Smith's squad doubly determined to end Celtic's domination next term.

Rangers had been on course to win four trophies at the start of this month but Celtic took advantage of a tight schedule which saw the Light Blues having to play three league games in the space of six days following their UEFA Cup final loss to Zenit St Petersburg, and it was the Hoops who came out on top in the end.

Beasley – currently with the USA squad preparing for tomorrow night's Wembley friendly with England – is convinced his side had been unfairly treated by administrators who had extended the normal season only slightly.

He said: "Getting the SPL title back from Celtic is definitely the aim. It is always our first priority and now that Celtic have won it three times in a row we want to win it even more.

"It was disappointing to lose it after it came down to the wire and I know that if we hadn't had to play all those games so close together we would have won the championship easily. If they had given us a proper rest time then our boys would have won the SPL."