Hoops hoping to hang on in Scotland
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Article summary
For the third time in five seasons, the Scottish title will be decided on the final day, with Celtic FC looking to deny exhausted Rangers FC the crown this evening.
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For the third time in five seasons, the Scottish title will be decided on the final day, with Celtic FC looking to deny exhausted Rangers FC the crown.
Level pegging
The destination of the Scottish Premier League title will be decided tonight with Celtic and Rangers playing their final fixtures of the season. The Glasgow rivals are level on 86 points but Celtic have the edge with goal difference – by four goals – ahead of their trip to Dundee United FC while Rangers journey a little further north to meet Aberdeen FC at Pittodrie.
Extra motivation
A win at Tannadice would almost certainly guarantee a third consecutive title for Gordon Strachan – the first treble since the days of Jock Stein – and Celtic also have the added motivation of honouring former player and coach Tommy Burns, who died of cancer last week at the age of 51. Coincidentally, Burns scored the winner at Tannadice in 1981 when Celtic clinched the title against United.
'Our motivation'
While Celtic captain Stephen McManus is taking nothing for granted he admits the untimely passing of their first-team coach will be a motivating factor. "We've always said we were doing this for ourselves, but Tommy's death has changed things," said McManus. "He'll certainly be our motivation and we'll dedicate any title win to him."
Pall bearer
Walter Smith and Ally McCoist both helped carry Burns' coffin to his final resting place on Tuesday, but are hoping that United can do them a favour to maintain their domestic treble dream. "We have an opportunity to win the league and we want to take that," said Smith, who will be hoping for favours from a Dundee United side he spent most of his playing career with. Rangers need to do their part too, however, though they are playing their fourth match in nine days since losing to FC Zenit St.Petersburg in the UEFA Cup final. He said: "We have probably played more games than we wanted to this season, but if it happens that that is the cause, that is something we just have to put up with."
