Distance form can give us edge, says McLeish
STEPHEN HALLIDAY

ALEX McLeish, the Rangers manager, believes his team's course and distance form at the business end of a Premierleague season could prove the key factor in reining in Hearts to claim second place in the table and a Champions League qualifying slot.

Ahead of tomorrow's lunchtime date at Tynecastle, when Rangers will seek to narrow the gap between the teams to just three points, McLeish observed that his players should be well versed in coping with the strain which intensifies as the finishing line approaches.

"I know from experience, and I'm sure both sets of players do too, that when the gap is closed a wee bit more, you start to look over your shoulder," said McLeish. "We have shown we can respond to pressure over the last few years, we have been through it before.

"I'm not going to give you a headline that says 'Let's see how Hearts handle it', which I'm sure you'd like me to say, because we have got to concentrate on the way we are playing and take confidence from our recent form. But I think there is a new phrase in the dictionary, 'squeaky bum time', so I suppose it's appropriate to use that.

"A win is more important for us. Hearts will feel a win for them will obviously make it more difficult for us to get second place, but a draw wouldn't be the worst result for them. To be honest, I don't think it would be the worst for us either but we have to try and get all three points.

"I don't think it will be decided if we don't win it, because there are still a few games to come and a lot of head-to-heads at the top end of the table. We are in good form and have a lot of confidence at the moment and our challenge is to finish the season on a high by staying unbeaten for the rest of our games. Hopefully, that will be good enough to finish second."

Peter Lovenkrands, Rangers' top scorer this season, is likely to be recalled to the starting line-up tomorrow and the Danish forward admitted yesterday that he fears his time at Ibrox is coming to an end.

Signed six years ago from AB Copenhagen, the 26-year-old is out of contract this summer and has received no indication yet that incoming manager Paul Le Guen wants him to stay on at Govan beyond the end of the season.

"I know if I don't get an offer by the end of the season, then that's it for me, and it's a bit upsetting," said Lovenkrands. "Given the option, I would like to stay here but I'm not sure that's going to happen."

Taken from the Scotsman