Robertson looks for another milestone as Wright passes one A tale of two strikers in the capital derby

By IAN PAUL

28 Sep 1996

PREMIER PREVIEW: TWO men with a happy knack in front of goal could have the major say in the other big city derby, the one at Easter Road, which, on the field at least, has been as ferociously contested in recent times as the one 40 miles due west.

Hibs striker Keith Wright reached the significant mark of 100 premier-division goals when he scored at Aberdeen.

On the other side, John Robertson will be seeking the goal he needs to reach the remarkable total of 250 in his Tynecastle career, and manager Jim Jefferies hopes that his team-mates will supply the kind of service the little striker requires.

On Wright, manager Alex Miller said: "That 100th goal has been on his mind, niggling away at him, and Keith is the kind of player who thrives on confidence.

Now that he has passed that mark, we will be looking for him to score more." Hibs still will be without Joe McLaughlin, Gordon Hunter, and Barry Lavety.

German midfield player Forsten Schmugge, who has been on trial at Easter Road, has returned home to discuss a move to Scotland with his family, knowing that Hibs want him to sign.

Hearts' Robertson has collected 23 goals in Edinburgh derbies, which is one reason why he remains the darling of the Gorgie crowd.

Jefferies said: "Our task is to produce a real team effort which will create the chances for him to add to his total." Steve Fulton is still out but Neil Pointon is expected to replace young Gary Naismith.

The need to be ruthless was the message Alex McLeish was trying to get across to his Motherwell players, while the man in charge of the visitors to Fir Park, Alex Totten of Kilmarnock, was persuading his players to concentrate for all of the 90 minutes.

McLeish said: "We've had a lot of draws and, with three points for a win these days, it's imperative we start picking up victories.

The boys are playing well and made three or four clear-cut chances against Hearts last week.

But, again, we took only one point." He will have John Hendry back in the squad while Shaun McSkimming should be fit after recovering from injury.

Totten is annoyed at the meagre reward for so much effort this season - one point from the past five games after an opening 2-1 win at Hibs.

He said: "We're playing well for long periods in games, but are losing the place for a short spell and it's costing us dearly.

It would be different if we were a poor side, but that is not the case and it's very disappointing.

The players need to concentrate for the entire 90 minutes." He has injury worries over Neil Whitworth and John Henry but Billy Findlay, who scored a hat trick for the reserves against Rangers in midweek, looks a certain starter.

Raith Rovers manager Iain Munro, one-time leader of Dunfermline, can expect the usual hot reception when he takes his new team to East End Park for the Fife derby.

He had a hard time there from some Pars fans when he took over from local hero Jim Leishman but Munro insisted: "The time I was at East End Park with Jim was a very happy time but, when he left, I had a few wee problems with the fans.

"But you get a vocal minority at every club.

I really don't think they were too anti-Iain Munro - more pro-Jim Leishman." Raith have Davie Kirkwood and David Craig doubtful but striker Scott Thomson could return.

Ex-Sporting Lisbon goalkeeper, 35-year-old Zoran Lemajic, who is a great friend of Celtic's Jorge Cadete, will make his debut against Raith.

Said Dunfermline manager Bert Paton: "This is no reflection on Ian Westwater after last week's Celtic result, but I have to find out just how good Zoran is." Strikers Gerry Britton and Stewart Petrie passed fitness tests after struggling all week with injuries, but Allan Moore is still out with an injured toe.

Taken from the Herald