Houston wary of Rangers pair’s attacking threat

PETER Houston saw a previous master plan ripped to shreds when Kris Boyd netted five times against his Dundee United team but hopes Falkirk can find the recipe to keep the Rangers striker and partner Kenny Miller off the scoring charts for another week.

Houston knows from bitter experience that the duo have the ability to make a mockery of even the most meticulous of preparations. Picture: TSPL

Most expect the attacking prowess of Boyd and Miller to shoot Rangers to promotion back to the Premiership this season, but the pair have got off to a slow start in the opening competitive matches against title rivals Hibernian and Hearts.

Houston worked with the duo as Scotland assistant and is hopeful his inside knowledge of them can help the Bairns in this evening’s Championship game at a sold-out Falkirk Stadium.

However, he also knows from bitter experience that the duo have the ability to make a mockery of even the most meticulous of preparations, as Boyd did in December 2009 when Rangers hammered Dundee United 7-1 at Ibrox.

The Scotland cap scored five goals, including three in ten first-half minutes, in a match in which Miller was sent off. Boyd helped to embarrass United with two further late goals.

Backing the summer signings to come good, Houston said: “They are two quality players. Let me tell you, they’re still quality players and I’ve watched them closely in the last two games, especially the strikers. I know them from working with them in the Scotland squad.

“Kris Boyd scored five goals one time against Dundee United. He used to score against Dundee United all the time, no matter what we tried to do.

“What Kenny Miller has said is they are not getting the supply yet. Hopefully we can continue to stop that supply to them. We’ll defend from the front but I’ve made our defenders aware that we can’t allow them space, because Boydy is a brilliant finisher.

“Although people say he’s not the quickest, he can take a ball in the box and, once he gets his shot, inevitably it hits the target.

“I watched Kenny Miller the other day against Hearts and he was working his socks off – going back, chasing out to the wing, putting slide tackles in.

“Forget about their ages, they’ll still score goals in this division. I just hope it’s not going to be tonight.”