ECK: I HAD RIXTH SENSE

ALEX McLEISH last night admitted he wasn't in the least bit surprised to learn of Graham Rix's departure from Tynecastle.

The Rangers boss suspected something was badly amiss after speaking with his Hearts counterpart in the aftermath of last week's 1 - 1 draw in Edinburgh.

Rix's sacking has plunged the Edinburgh club into chaos and McLeish hopes the uncertainty can boost his side's chances of pipping them to second spot and a place in next season's Champions League.

McLeish knows only too well the damage off-field events can have on the pitch with the constant speculation surrounding his own future deeply affecting Rangers' early season form.

Financial upheaval did little to create a positive atmosphere within Murray Park as Rangers trailed Hearts by a massive 16 points in early December.

However, the deficit has been reduced to just six points and with eight games left momentum appears to have transferred along the M8 to Glasgow.

McLeish said: "I wasn't surprised by the news after speaking to Graham after the game but it's none of my business.

"It's another club and I'm loathe to talk about their internal affairs.

"I know in the last four-and-a-half years at Rangers we have had enough to contend with in terms of turmoil as the club came through a difficult period financially.

"I think it can affect players if you are constantly reading things all the time. It's negative and you don't want that inside a football club or on a training ground.

"You have to try to get on with it. It's vitally important you remain focused on the football side of things as at the end of the day we're trying to win games.

"Our target is to finish second and we will do everything we can to ensure we achieve that.

"Obviously we face a battle with Hearts, who have shown they are a good side this season.

"There's no doubt Hearts have the advantage being six points ahead. All we can do is put more pressure on them by winning our games."

Rangers overhauled Celtic's five-point advantage with four games left last term and McLeish believes his battle-hardened troops are capable of another comeback.

Hearts face the tougher run-in with home and away clashes against Celtic and trips to both Ibrox and Easter Road still to come.

McLeish said: "Hearts have a lot of hard games coming up and we hope we can meet them head-on. We have finished strongly in two or three of the seasons I have been here and I'm hoping we do so again.

"We still have to prove we can reduce the gap but we have the belief because we have come back before.

"We reduced the gap during a difficult period. We were still in Europe and had a lot of games to contend with. Now there is a clear route to the end of the season.

"I'd rather be six points clear but we know what task lies ahead of us.

"I know I have the type of players here who are up for the challenge because they have been through it before."

Dado Prso, Thomas Buffel and Nacho Novo were instrumental in Rangers' late, surging run to the title 12 months ago.

However, with the arrival of SPL top goalscorer Kris Boyd and the rejuvenated Peter Lovenkrands rediscovering his best form, McLeish admits he is faced with a massive striking dilemma during the championship run-in.

He said: "There's a good edge to the strikers and that's the one place where I can keep them all on their toes.

"It's hard to ignore any of them. It's hard to ignore Lovenkrands because of the goals he's scored through the middle and it's hard to ignore Boyd.

"You want to find a place for Thomas Buffel because he's playing so well and brings something different. And then of course there's the little matter of big Dado, who is worth his weight in gold and is a massive presence.

"There are loads of options there and it's just a matter of getting them right for each game."

With 27 goals to his name already this season, Boyd is hoping to figure prominently in McLeish's thinking as he bids to become the first Scot since Ally McCoist 13 years ago to finish as the Premier League's top marksman.

Boyd said: "For any striker to finish top scorer is a great achievement.

"When I started the season it was in the back of my mind but I never thought I'd be top scorer at this stage.

"I've taken my chances this year and it's been a pretty good season for me.

"I didn't realise a Scot hadn't won it for so long. But that's the i way of Scottish football right now.

"Clubs are going back to their roots and young Scottish players are getting their chance."

A limited number of tickets are available for today's game and will be on sale at the Ibrox ticket centre until kick-off.

Prices are £22 and £23 for adults with concessions priced at £12.

'I wasn't surprised after chat with Graham'

Taken from the Daily Record