RIX LEFT NISSY DIZZY

AS former team-mates at Dundee, Paul Ritchie knows only too well just how inspirational Graham Rix can be.

Back in 1992, a Dark Blues side inspired by Rix overcame Rangers 4-3 in athrilling league encounter at Dens Park when Simon Stainrod was manager.

Ritchie rates Rix's virtuoso display that day as the best he's ever seen from a midfielder in Scotland.

But he's has vowed not to let the Hearts boss have things all his own way this weekend when the now Partick Thistle striker arrives at Tynecastle desperate to take another SPL scalp in the Scottish Cup.

Ritchie said: "I'll never forget what Graham did to Rangers that day and in particular Scott Nisbet.

"If ever there was a day when he rolled back the years it was that afternoon.

"His legs had gone a bit but he still gave big Nisbet a torrid time and some of his touches were out of this world.

"I don't think Scottish football has ever seen a midfield performance quite like it.

"We had a few quality foreigners such as Dariusz Adamczuk and Morten Wieghorst.

"But Rixy had just come to Scotland from France and was the best of the lot."

Ritchie recalls the day Rix arrived at Dens Park after a spell lighting up French football.

And he revealed how the former Arsenal and England star's talents didn't end on the pitch.

Ritchie said: "On his first day there, Graham organised a snooker competition for all the boys.

"He got us all to put our money in before collecting it all at the end.

"What we didn't know at the time was he played semi-professional snooker in France. He was almost as good at that as he was on the pitch.

"I remember as a kid watching him play for Arsenal in FA Cup finals where he was outstanding. As a striker at Dundee relying on his service you couldn't have asked for any more.

"Now he has moved into management I hope he does well but obviously not this weekend."

At 37, Ritchie is gearing up for what will probably be his last chance of pulling off another major cup upset.

The veteran hi tm an will be a key man as Jags boss Dick Campbell plots the downfall of another SPL side after knocking out Inverness on penalties in last midweek's fourth-round replay.

And Ritchie has a feeling Partick might have yet another shock in store.

The former Inverness star said: "We've already proved we can match the bigger clubs on our day.

"The way this competition is going it's there for any team to make a name for themselves.

"Inverness have shown over the years that anything is possible.

"I don't think we'll freeze on Saturday. I'm sure we'll make the most of the challenge."

Taken from the Daily Record