It's Old Firm pace rather than grace for Burns Europe blow will fire up Rangers

IAN PAUL

27 Aug 1994

DESPITE his contention that the modern Scottish supporters demand "aggression, passion and grit," Tommy Burns, as a player, was much more about skill and vision, and it is perhaps indicative of where the domestic game has gone in relatively few years that, temporarily at least, he has been forced to accept the preference for pace rather than grace.

For the moment, however, he cannot afford to linger long on the nuances of Scotland's declining reputation.

Nor can the man at the head of the country's champions, Walter Smith.

For both, the meeting at Ibrox today, the first Old Firm clash of the season, takes precedence for their respective followers over war, famine and anonymous phone calls from a palace.

Burns has strong views on the state of the art in this country, believing that our fans simply would not tolerate the slow, cultured build-up that brings success at the higher level, but his priority is to re-establish Celtic as serious challengers for the major trophies at home before concerning himself with how the foreign fields can be tackled.

Smith, albeit unwillingly, has had that problem removed from his remit, too, after AEK Athens dealt a deadly blow to Rangers' hard-won pride and status in midweek.

And so, for the vast majority of fans in Scotland, the season that has just started will be entirely domestic.

It is a strange year when Rangers enter their first Old Firm fray with the biggest disappointment of the season already behind them.

Celtic did not even get close to a preliminary round, of course, and they are in no position to preen themselves.

Burns, sensibly, is wary of the reaction among the Ibrox players as they reel from ferocious criticism after the European performance.

"There are two ways of looking at it," he said.

"Either Rangers will still be down or they will be really determined to win back the fans by beating us.

I am inclined to think they will be fired up.

"Old Firm games are all about fire and fury and in the end it is usually the team that wants to win more that does."

The Celtic manager, passionate Parkhead man that he is, does not see victory in these matches as the be-all and end-all of success.

"It would be nice to win my first one as manager, but if you are asking me would I swap four wins over Rangers for winning the league, you can count me out.

But I know what it means to the fans."

He also hopes it will be a good game, because "fans pay a lot of money these days to see a match like this.

There are a lot of exciting players in the Rangers team and we have some trying to prove themselves again."

One who does not come into that category is young striker Simon Donnelly, who replaces injured Willie Falconer in the squad.

Burns is determined to spare the young man's legs this season, but with Falconer out and after what the manager describes as an "outstanding" show in the reserves' 5-0 win over Dundee United, Simon has earned his place.

Smith acknowledges that the Burns influence as a new manager has already made an impact at Parkhead but at the same time believes that nothing much changes the unpredictable nature of the derby.

"Neither form nor any other factor seems to matter, but it is a match we are glad to be going into after the disappointment of Wednesday."

Smith anticipates that his players, who have rebounded from bad results in the past, will do so again, but he confesses that no manager can be sure of their state of mind until they go on the field.

"It is difficult to tell just how they will react by talking to them.

It is only on the field that their response counts."

The Ibrox manager, who confirmed that deputy keeper Ally Maxwell has asked for a transfer, names the same pool as midweek, but is almost certain to switch things around.

While all this goes on, an hour or so down the M8, a contest as ferocious and competitive will be engaged at Tynecastle, where Hibs will attempt to end their five-and-a-half year wait to beat Hearts.

On past records it will not be pretty, but intense, and one of these days, Hibs will win.

They have no fresh injury problems and their captain, Gordon Hunter, who is one of four of today's squad who has known what it is like to beat the old rivals -- Gareth Evans, Graeme Mitchell and Joe Tortolano are the others -- insists that they have not even discussed the derby.

"For me, it is one more chance to beat them."

Hearts' new manager Tommy McLean gives due recognition to the derby performances of his team -- "a magnificent achievement" -- but adds that the present and future are what must be tackled.

"The players have responded well for me and, ideally I would like to see a couple of new faces, just to give me a wider choice."

Hearts have settled out of court with former manager Sandy Clark, who had been prepared to go that length for compensation for the year of his contract left when he was sacked in the summer.

Dundee United had hoped to have completed by today the £30,000 signing of Republic of Ireland keeper keeper Kelham O'Hanlon of Preston North End, but there are still one or two details to be settled.

Alan Main will keep his place in goal for the game against Aberdeen at Tannadice, while added to the pool are Christian Dailly, Paddy Connolly and Chris Myers.

Aberdeen will make changes from the side that went out of the UEFA Cup on Tuesday.

Kilmarnock manager Alex Totten, who will be without new signing John Henry because of a knee knock against Motherwell at Rugby Park, has given additional responsibilities to two experienced first-team men.

Bobby Williamson has been named reserve coach and George McCluskey youth coach.

Falkirk, difficult to beat at home, and Partick Thistle, who felt aggrieved at their defeat by Rangers last week, could have a hard battle at Brockville.

Taken from the Herald