WILSON BACKING HIS OLD IBROX PALS TO BE RUNNERS-UP

SCOTT WILSON is backing former club Rangers to nick the second Champions League spot - and wreck Hearts' hopes of mixing it with Europe's elite next year.

The Ibrox side are six points adrift of the Jambos with just eight games left to play.

But Wilson insists Alex McLeish is capable of handing incoming Ibrox manager Paul le Guen the perfect parting gift.

Wilson could put a dent in McLeish's hopes when the injury-hit Pars face Rangers this weekend but win, lose or draw he can't see past his old Govan mates.

Pars defender Wilson, who will shrug off a dead leg to travel to Glasgow, said: "It means everything to Rangers to play in the Champions League. Every single trophy is special to their fans and it's tough on them that they won't win anything this time.

A lot of people will feel that a six-point gap at this stage is a disaster but the momentum is with Rangers in my view.

"Even a few of the Hearts fans are starting to doubt that they can hold out. I spoke to a few of them and they fear that Rangers will be too strong.

"That's incredible because a few months ago, Rangers finishing second wasn't an option. Hearts were quite comfortable and were even chasing top spot.

"It's going to be very hard for Rangers because Hearts are a good side but I have a feeling they will sneak it.

"They will keep believing until the very last minute and won't see six points as a big gap to close. Mentally players at the Old Firm are very strong because they have been there and done it and that's what Hearts have to cope with. It would be a great thing for Scottish football if Hearts could cope with that and get into the Champions League but for Rangers it would be very damaging.

"They have a new manager coming in, a man who is highly rated and who wants to play on that stage. That's why I feel the players will have added determination.

"That makes it even harder for us when we go to Ibrox, though. We are trying to pick ourselves up from losing the CIS Cup Final to Celtic and to be honest this isn't the best game to be going into.

"But we'll go there with no fear and try to give our all, hoping that we can catch them on an off day.

"We've got a lot to play for too because we want points for survival. This game and the Falkirk one coming up are big tests for us."

Whatever happens at the top of the table, the Pars star reckons we haven't heard the last of McLeish.

Wilson, who helped Pars to a 3-3 draw the last time the sides met, left Ibrox to try to get regular first-team football at East End Park just a few months into the current boss's four-year reign.

He said: "I was at Rangers for a few months when Alex came in and I have no hard feelings towards him. I was going to leave Rangers before he came anyway and I respect him as a manager.

"He's done very well at Rangers but I know he will want to leave with his dignity intact by sending the club into the Champions League.

"It's going to be a tough afternoon for me. If I'm facing Kris Boyd that won't be easy because he's a real predator, a goal machine. He's miles ahead of anyone else in the scoring charts and that's amazing because he started the season at Kilmarnock. He was scoring for fun there and is now getting twice the chances at Rangers - imagine how many he could get."

Meanwhile, the Pars have doubts over eight players - Wilson, Scott Thomson, Allan McGregor, Noel Hunt, Aaron Labonte, Lee Makel, Derek Young and Simon Donnelly.

Taken from the Daily Record