CRAIG'S SO ANDY TO HAVE AROUND

WALTER SMITH reckons Craig Gordon can be as good as Andy Goram, voted Scotland's greatest ever keeper.

The Hearts No.1 has been in terrific form for club and country and has established himself as our undisputed No.1.

Smith signed Goram for Rangers from Hibs in a £1million deal in 1991 and The Goalie helped the club achieve nine-in-a-row with some outstanding performances, particularly against Celtic.

Since Andy retired from international football eight years ago many have tried to take his place but the likes of Neil Sullivan and Rab Douglas couldn't.

However, 23-year-old Gordon has emerged as one of the safest pair of hands in world football and barring injury will win his 20th cap against Georgia at Hampden on March 24 in the Euro 2008 qualifier.

And Smith said: "What I see in Craig is similar to Andy although they are different characters.

"Andy appreciated the level of responsibility when he joined Rangers. He knew he couldn't make an error he could have made elsewhere.

"Craig has displayed a terrific reaction to the pressure and his overall goalkeeping is every bit as good as Goram's.

"The players have every confidence in him and it's reassuring for them to know they have a goalkeeper of such ability.

"He's as good a keeper as I've worked with and I don't see a better young goalie around. He has been brilliant for Scotland."

Smith might not have a aggressive. We don't have players you'd call typical hard men. Davie Weir and Pressley are not hard men defenders.

"In the middle we have football players, not players who go in over the top.

"All I do is ask my lads for a level of commitment and by that I don't mean to cause harm to the opposition. There has never been a player carried off against us.

"Pressley was ordered off against Ukraine but my initial reaction was there was a bit of professionalism by Andriy Shevchenko. It wasn't a red card.

"Part of the problem is also football is softer than ever and players can be booked for such minor things.

"Referees are under pressure but there has to be common sense selection problem in goals but has one at left-back and has already expressed concerns five months ahead of the next competitive game against Georgia.

Gary Naysmith is his first choice but injury has too often prevented the Everton defender being available for selection.

Jackie McNamara, Kevin McNaughton and Graham Alexander are contenders while Stevie Smith will also have a chance if he continues to progress in the Rangers first team.

Smith said: "It's a position we need to look at. It's the biggest search I have.

"Gary has filled in admirably there but there might be an opportunity for someone to come in to contention. We will also have three players suspended - Darren Fletcher, Steven Pressley and James McFadden - and there will be changes made but not massive ones.

"Shaun Maloney is a player I have high hopes for and we might have Andy Webster back in contention by that time.

"We have a B international in the Republic of Ireland next month and I'll have the chance to look at players such as the Hibs lads Kevin Thomson, Scott Brown and Steven Whittaker. I can also look at Paul Gallacher in goals."

Smith is disappointed with the suspensions his players have picked up in the qualifying campaign but insisted there are no hatchet men in his line-up.

He said: "We are not over and more consideration shown. Perhaps they might be looking at the results we've been achieving and thinking we're winning by being too aggressive.

"Referees can go over the top with their protection of big-name players.

"However, let me stress again I'm not blaming the referee (Martin Hansson) for our defeat in the Ukraine. "But it just goes to show the margin of error at this level is pretty narrow."

Smith would like to see UEFA increase the number of bookings from two to three before a suspension kicks in.

The SFA have already asked the power brokers to look at this and will repeat his request again this week.

Smith said: "We have to play 12 games in this section and it would be better if the number of bookings was extended. The Champions League now have a three-booking system and this competition should follow suit. "After one-third of the section played I didn't think we'd have so many suspensions but we will be able to handle it and we have good cover for positions.

"We've done well so far and there's no reason why we can't continue to acquit ourselves well.

"But it won't be easy because I believe this section is the hardest there is.

"We need to get a good result against Georgia and we're confident playing at Hampden. "All we can do is keep trying our best and the players have made sure they're disciplined well in tactics and formations.

"It's just sometimes circumstances might not go with you and then it's frustrating. But often there is little you can do."

Taken from the Sunday Mail