http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/?service=Rss http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/smith-wants-rangers-to-shake-off-manchester-misery-829968.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/smith-wants-rangers-to-shake-off-manchester-misery-829968.html?r=RSS <p>Walter Smith, the Rangers manager, is hoping a hectic fixture schedule will actually work in his side's favour as they attempt to wrest the Scottish Premier League title from Celtic's grasp over the next week. </p> Scottish Sat, 17 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/tributes-paid-to-a-true-football-man-829060.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/tributes-paid-to-a-true-football-man-829060.html?r=RSS <p> Among the many tributes paid to the Celtic coach, Tommy Burns, who died yesterday, aged 51, after a fight against skin cancer, the unlikeliest of them gave a measure of the esteem in which he was held across Scotland&rsquo;s entire footballing family. Rangers scarves were among those laid at Parkhead in his honour, some by fans en route home from Wednesday&rsquo;s Uefa Cup final defeat. As one fan said: &ldquo;I&rsquo;m Rangers through and through, but Tommy was a football man, and he&rsquo;ll be missed&quot;. </p> Scottish Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:29 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/rangers-fans-say-best-team-won-829161.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/rangers-fans-say-best-team-won-829161.html?r=RSS <p>If there was one complaint among the massed ranks of Rangers support about the footballing outcome of Wednesday's Uefa Cup final against Zenit St Petersburg, it has yet to be voiced. </p> European Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/celtic-fc-legend-dies-aged-51-828443.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/celtic-fc-legend-dies-aged-51-828443.html?r=RSS <p> The Celtic legend Tommy Burns has died after a battle with cancer, the club said today. </p> Scottish Thu, 15 May 2008 08:59:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/rangers-3-dundee-united-1-rangers-fail-to-shake-the-plain-jane-comparison-826310.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/rangers-3-dundee-united-1-rangers-fail-to-shake-the-plain-jane-comparison-826310.html?r=RSS <p>From Pygmalion to Educating Rita, great metamorphosis dramas all contain a "reveal" scene where the swan emerges. But given that this SPL season has had such a varied blend of tragic, comic, tacky, farcical and epic moments, for comparisons with Rangers it is more appropriate to trawl not Ovid or Russell but Neighbours.</p> Scottish Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/rangers-3-dundee-utd-1-novo-hits-double-to-keep-rangers-title-tilt-on-track-825883.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/rangers-3-dundee-utd-1-novo-hits-double-to-keep-rangers-title-tilt-on-track-825883.html?r=RSS <p>Rangers maintained their momentum in their marathon pursuit of a four-trophy haul and moved to within a point of Celtic at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League thanks to a double from Nacho Novo.</p> Scottish Sun, 11 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/smith-holding-nothing-back-for-uefa-final-as-rangers-focus-on-title-825502.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/smith-holding-nothing-back-for-uefa-final-as-rangers-focus-on-title-825502.html?r=RSS <p>With six games to play in 15 days in three competitions, beginning at lunchtime today at Ibrox against Dundee United, Rangers might be forgiven for having one eye already Wednesday's European final, their first in 36 years. </p> Scottish Sat, 10 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/spl-ruling-on-rangers-is-wrong-says-burley-822662.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/spl-ruling-on-rangers-is-wrong-says-burley-822662.html?r=RSS <p>The Scotland manager George Burley has called for the Scottish Premier League to make changes ahead of next season in the wake of the Rangers fixture row. The Ibrox club yesterday failed in their bid to have Saturday's Premier League game against Dundee United postponed to allow more time to prepare for the Uefa Cup final against Zenit St Petersburg in Manchester next Wednesday. </p> Scottish Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/rangers-1-motherwell-0-ferguson-strike-keeps-rangers-on-title-course-822914.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/rangers-1-motherwell-0-ferguson-strike-keeps-rangers-on-title-course-822914.html?r=RSS <p>Rangers' quadruple quest remains alive and kicking thanks to their captain Barry Ferguson's late, solitary goal at Ibrox last night. The fate of the SPL title is in their own hands: the gap on Celtic is down to four points, with two games remaining in hand.</p> Scottish Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/smith-stays-upbeat-on-rangers-workload-822006.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/smith-stays-upbeat-on-rangers-workload-822006.html?r=RSS <p>Walter Smith, the Rangers manager, believes his players will be fully focused on their quadruple challenge despite the club's failure to ease their schedule.</p> Scottish Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/falkirk-2-hearts-1-finnigans-header-gives-falkirk-hope-of-leading-lesser-lights-821685.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/falkirk-2-hearts-1-finnigans-header-gives-falkirk-hope-of-leading-lesser-lights-821685.html?r=RSS <p>Goals either side of half-time from Thomas Scobbie and Carl Finnigan prevented Hearts guaranteeing themselves a seventh- place finish in the Scottish Premier League and kept alive Falkirk's slim hopes of overhauling their rivals at the top of the bottom half of the division.</p> Scottish Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/hibernian-0-rangers-0-hibs-leave-tired-rangers-with-no-room-for-slipups-821172.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/hibernian-0-rangers-0-hibs-leave-tired-rangers-with-no-room-for-slipups-821172.html?r=RSS <p>Rangers' pursuit of a remarkable quadruple remains on, but their margin for domestic error decreased significantly at Easter Road yesterday. Less than three days after sweating their way to a penalty shoot-out victory at Fiorentina to reach the Uefa Cup final, Rangers took the game to Hibernian in the second half here, but too many of Walter Smith's players looked as if Thursday night was still in their system. </p> Scottish Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/motherwell-1-celtic-2-samaras-piles-more-pressure-on-rangers-820785.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/motherwell-1-celtic-2-samaras-piles-more-pressure-on-rangers-820785.html?r=RSS <p>Gordon Strachan's gamble of throwing Georgios Samaras into the cauldron here paid off when the towering Greek striker bore the gift of a matchwinner that could yet see the title stay with Celtic. Samaras came off the bench and completed Celtic's comeback with a clinical 79th-minute header to widen the gap between Strachan's team and Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League to eight points. Their Old Firm rivals have four games in hand, starting with a hard trip to Hibernian today, but the pressure not to slip up is intense for both sides.</p> Scottish Sun, 04 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/rangers-return-to-title-marathon-after-a-cup-night-to-savour-820399.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/rangers-return-to-title-marathon-after-a-cup-night-to-savour-820399.html?r=RSS <p>Stylish, perhaps not. Dramatic, without question. That sums up Rangers' win on penalties at Fiorentina in the Uefa Cup semi-final late on Thursday night after a 120-minute battle not to concede a goal, latterly with 10 men. It could yet be the campaign's epitaph. </p> Scottish Sat, 03 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/celtic-3-rangers-2-robson-penalty-puts-pressure-on-rangers-816685.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/celtic-3-rangers-2-robson-penalty-puts-pressure-on-rangers-816685.html?r=RSS <p>The stadium DJ ended this cracker &ndash; a fitting final Old Firm derby in a season likely to go to the wire &ndash; with a cute, if acidic touch. He played Queen and David Bowie's "Under Pressure". After this, Rangers are. </p> Scottish Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/motherwell-2-dundee-united-2-wilkie-keeps-united-dreaming-of-europe-816170.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/motherwell-2-dundee-united-2-wilkie-keeps-united-dreaming-of-europe-816170.html?r=RSS <p>Lee Wilkie gave Dundee United European lifeline yesterday by snatching the late equaliser that maintains their ambition of playing in the Uefa Cup next season. Craig Levein's side were on the verge of falling four points behind Motherwell in the race for third place until Wilkie rose in the 86th minute to plant a header into the net after Danny Grainger's long throw-in was glanced on by Darren Dods.</p> Scottish Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/ferguson-returns-to-guide-rangers-815901.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/ferguson-returns-to-guide-rangers-815901.html?r=RSS <p>Only one team in global football history has won a quadruple of their nation's top-tier league plus both domestic cups plus major continental silverware in the same season. That was Celtic, in 1967, and in Rangers' quest to match the feat &ndash; still on course after Thursday's Uefa Cup semi-final first leg 0-0 draw with Fiorentina at Ibrox &ndash; their Glasgow rivals present the next hurdle in tomorrow lunchtime's last Old Firm derby of the season. </p> Scottish Sat, 26 Apr 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/brown-faces-derby-blues-after-run-of-yellows-814593.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/brown-faces-derby-blues-after-run-of-yellows-814593.html?r=RSS <p>The Celtic manager, Gordon Strachan, has said Scott Brown is not guaranteed a recall for Sunday's Old Firm game against Rangers despite the &pound;4.4m midfielder being free from suspension.</p> Scottish Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/spl-agrees-to-extend-season-if-rangers-reach-european-final-813898.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/spl-agrees-to-extend-season-if-rangers-reach-european-final-813898.html?r=RSS <p>The Scottish Premier League season will be extended by four days to 22 May if Rangers reach the Uefa Cup final. The SPL is to reveal two provisional fixture lists, one that will be implemented if Rangers beat Fiorentina in their European semi-final and one if they lose.</p> Scottish Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/referee-admits-blunder-in-ruling-out-aberdeen-goal-813899.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/referee-admits-blunder-in-ruling-out-aberdeen-goal-813899.html?r=RSS <p>The referee Iain Brines has admitted he wrongly disallowed the goal that could have finished Celtic's title challenge.</p> Scottish Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/st-johnstone-1-rangers-1-cousin-keeps-rangers-fighting-on-all-fronts-812690.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/st-johnstone-1-rangers-1-cousin-keeps-rangers-fighting-on-all-fronts-812690.html?r=RSS <p>No team with ambitions of a Quadruple can expect to sail smoothly through an entire campaign, and as surely as yesterday's warm spring afternoon in Glasgow turned icy in minutes, a metaphorical force-10 gale bore down on Rangers' multiple trophy hopes. </p> Scottish Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/celtic-1-aberdeen-0-celtic-go-top-thanks-to-saviour-samaras-812116.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/celtic-1-aberdeen-0-celtic-go-top-thanks-to-saviour-samaras-812116.html?r=RSS <p>Georgios Samaras sent Celtic back to the top of the Scottish Premier League for the first time since 5 January, as they followed up their win over Rangers last Wednesday with a nervous win that now puts them two points clear of their Old Firm rivals.</p> Scottish Sun, 20 Apr 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/novo-draws-strength-in-defeat-811830.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/novo-draws-strength-in-defeat-811830.html?r=RSS <p>Rangers' midweek defeat in the Old Firm derby has only bolstered their resolve in their chase for a quadruple of trophies, their Spanish striker Nacho Novo said yesterday. </p> Scottish Sat, 19 Apr 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/rangers-count-cost-of-defeat-to-celtic-811119.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/rangers-count-cost-of-defeat-to-celtic-811119.html?r=RSS <p>From a neutral's point of view, Wednesday night's Old Firm derby &ndash; which Celtic won 2-1 with Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's injury-time header &ndash; was an absolute treat, but Rangers will rue the collateral damage of a frenzied 95 minutes as much as the scoreline itself. </p> Scottish Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:01 +0100