Football: Rangers' victory marred by row

Scottish round -up

FAR FROM sitting back and smiling while their Old Firm rivals Celtic have been in open warfare with their club's officials, Rangers have been scrapping among themselves, but their head coach, Dick Advocaat, believes arguments among players are a healthy sign.

Rangers' captain, Lorenzo Amoruso, again found himself at the centre of controversy following the 3-1 Premier Division victory at Kilmarnock on Saturday. Exciting as the match was, the most notable action came afterwards when Amoruso almost came to blows with his German team-mate, Jorg Albertz, as the players began their warm-down. The goalkeeper Lionel Charbonnier and Rod Wallace had to pull Albertz away as he harangued the Italian.

Albertz was apparently incensed at the way Amoruso had handed Kilmarnock's Paul Wright a goal with a sloppy back-pass. It was an astonishing scene so close to the Uefa Cup game in Greece against PAOK Salonica, where Rangers defend a 2-0 lead.

At least Rangers won comfortably enough, with Rod Wallace scoring early and Albertz adding the second from the penalty spot. After Wright's goal, Kilmarnock's hopes were dented by the dismissal of Jim Lauchlan, and Charlie Miller added Rangers' third.

Kilmarnock are also in Uefa Cup action this week, trying to overhaul a 2-0 deficit at home against Sigma Olomouc.

Mark Burchill officially came of age last Tuesday when he turned 18, but it was on the Parkhead stage yesterday that he matured as a footballer. By scoring a dramatic winner with six minutes remaining of Celtic's home meeting with Dundee United, Burchill, who has progress from the youth ranks, announced his arrival.

Steve Fulton shone for the League leaders, Hearts, in their 2-0 home win over Aberdeen, The midfielder scored the first goal after six minutes to launch a fine individual and team performance, with the points secured by Steve Pressley with a second after 11 minutes.