Robbo record spoils the party

By DOUGLAS CAMPBELL

12 May 1997

Hearts....... 3 Rangers .......1,

UNLESS you have been inhabiting the dark side of the planet Pluto in recent times, you could not have failed to grasp that the number ''9'' has pre-occupied thinking for many who seek their Saturday afternoon entertainment in the Ibrox area of Glasgow.

It has been almost impossible to chat with a Rangers follower without the words ''nine-in-a-row'' entering the conversation.

Well, now it is picnic time for the Teddy Bears, the team having struck their target of nine consecutive league titles, and it appears that the celebrations are set to go on.

There may have been only a sprinkling of the champions' followers in the capital at the weekend due to reconstruction work being carried out at Tynecastle, but they seemed to enjoy themselves with precious little help from the local inhabitants.

The doors to some watering holes in the Gorgie area were either bolted closed or had guys who would make Arnold Schwarzenegger appear somewhat effeminate barring entry to undesirables - no doubt that meant citizens from west of Harthill.

Still, inside the stadium it was hard to believe that 2500 could make such a din for so long.

Their lips were seldom at rest as they informed everyone that they were chuffed to be seen with an article of clothing around their necks that their fathers had worn, while no-one can accuse followers of Rangers of being unfriendly.

Repeatedly they bellowed the welcome: ''Hello, Hello,'' while the rest of the audience took little notice.

However, the din abated just after 79 minutes when Colin Cameron left Rangers keeper Andy Dibble clutching the chill, east-coast air and opened the scoring for Hearts.

Derek McInnes equalised before John Robertson struck twice, giving his side victory and setting the record of being Hearts' highest goalscorer with 208.

When referee Jim McCluskey blew to end another league season, this seemed a signal for the ones in red, white and blue to strike up again, and indeed the helicopter waiting to take some of the management and players back to Ibrox for a party with the fans had to wait while the players took a bow.

The result, said Rangers spokesman John Greig, was of secondary importance.

Relaying a message from manager Walter Smith, by now strapping himself into a helicopter for the short trip home, he said that many of the Rangers players were feeling the strain, and although defeat was unfortunate, the season had been completed satisfactorily.

As for Hearts, there was round applause when Robertson was presented with enough crystal glassware to need a commercial vehicle for its transportation home, and Hearts' reserve team took their league title, but that was it.

Manager Jim Jefferies' outfit went about their business all season with purpose and hope, but, when it came to major prizes, it appears that some things do not change.

But the introduction of French striker Stephane Adam, who will team up with Hearts next season, perhaps shows that there is hope.

On the subject of expectation, Robertson has his fingers crossed that a meeting scheduled for tomorrow and involving the player, his agent, and manager Jefferies, will be completed with him putting his name on a new contract which will mean, effectively, concluding his playing days at Tynecastle.

Good strikers with proven ability are much sought after, and then, on a higher plane, there are men like Robertson, who has been a pest to defenders throughout his career.

Hearts officials would, it seems, be in dereliction of their duties not to go out of their way to make sure that the little man is in their ranks again next season, and for verification they need only ask any premier division defender of Robertson's threats.

The word threat and the name Peter van Vossen are seldom used by football pundits in the same sentence, and indeed even some Rangers followers were heard saying unkind things about their Dutch player when he trotted on to the Tynecastle grass.

It would be pleasing to be able to say that van Vossen proved his critics wrong and that he had a stormer, but in truth that cannot be stated.

The word is that he soon will throw his boots over a shoulder and be off down the road, which could prove the best situation for all concerned.

However, on Saturday's showing, perhaps not all positions in Rangers' team soon will be filled by big-priced professionals because the champions gave an airing to a youngster called Barry Ferguson, and he looked as much at home in his side's midfield area as the flamboyant Paul Gascoigne.

If there are indeed to be 10 titles in a row, as the Rangers fans appear now to demand, Ferguson may well have a part to play.

Taken from the Herald