GAME'S ABOUT TO FALL ON ITS FARCE
TYNECASTLE IN TURMOIL

HIBS could be placed in an almost impossible position when they take on Rangers at Easter Road next week.

Imagine it's 1 -0 to Alex McLeish's side and Tony Mowbray's team are awarded a last-minute penalty.

A goal would give Hibs a point but deny them a chance of playing UEFA Cup football next season and much-needed revenue.

I hope it's a scenario that never arises but, if I was in the position, information would be relayed to the player to miss the spot-kick. Really, it's a farce, bordering on cheating and completely against everything we ^ understand as players and managers.

There are games when you are happy to come away with a I draw but you still ' always set out to win matches.

It's a no-win situation, especially for the player who steps up to take the kick and I only hope it doesn't come to pass.

It also brings to mind my most nerve-wracking 90 minutes in football when I took Dundee United to Ibrox in the early Seventies.

We needed at least a point to survive, knowing that if we stayed in the Premier League our arch-rivals Dundee would go down.

It was also vital we remained in the top flight for the growth and future well-being of the club.

In the end, we drew 0-0 but not before Hamish McAlpine missed a penalty.

Hamish was always a confident type and was really quite good at penalties but that night he failed to hit the net.

Looking back, it was the worst 90 minutes of my life. I only hope the players are spared a re-run at Easter Road on Tuesday.

Taken from the Daily Record