The Herald

Smith: Celtic 'Conspiracy' Claims a Tactic

WALTER SMITH last night accused Celtic of using "conspiracy" theories as a tactic, claiming the Parkhead club had tried to create "an environment where everyone is against them". The Rangers manager was responding to comments made this week by Gordon Strachan, his former Celtic counterpart, who declared there had been no bias against the club during his spell in charge.

'The Onus Is On Us to Try and Take the Game to Rangers'

T HE enduring adage about title fights in boxing is that the contender must be seen to wrest the belt from the champion. There can be no cautious second-guessing. There can be no lack of conviction or belief. The champion must be laid out or comprehensively outmanoeuvred. The dynamic at Parkhead tomorrow afternoon is of a young Celtic side trying to topple the reigning champions. The defining of a strategy has already caused Lennon sleepless nights. He admitted his decision to drop Anthony St...

Smith Says Claims of Conspiracy Are a Tactic

McDonald rescinded a penalty award to Celtic, later lying to both the match observer and the Celtic manager about how the decision had come to be overturned. McDonald and his assistant at the match, Steven Craven, have since resigned as top-flight officials. Lennon said: "The whole thing about Dundee United is that a referee did not tell the truth. Another official came out and told the whole story and for some reason we were getting the blame for it.

Mulgrew Now has Reasons to Be Cheerful

CHARLIE MULGREW may be condemned to a spot on the sidelines for tomorrow's Old Firm derby after Thomas Rogne's recovery from injury. However, the Celtic player is still ideally placed to talk about the rising confidence among Neil Lennon's squad and how the fortunes of the side have recovered from that day in October last year when Rangers flexed their muscles in a 3-1 victory at Parkhead.

Weiss to See You, Moravcik

LUBOMIR MORAVCIK has known Vladimir Weiss since the Rangers' winger was born and is a friend of his family. But the former Celtic playmaker, in town for a perfectly timed holiday, knows too much about this fixture to get in touch until after it is over. "I rate Vladimir very highly," he said. "He is a special talent. If he plays against Celtic, they will have to be very careful with him as he can win games on his own.

Time for Some Strong Words

ANALYSIS Rangers must cast off a perception of frailty if they are to overcome Celtic not only tomorrow but in race for championship, writes Richard Wilson AfEARFUL silence fell upon Ibrox when Madjid Bougherra slid awkwardly on the damp turf against Sporting Lisbon on Thursday and, lying on the ground, threw his arm up in alarm. Anxiety was immediate among the home support and when one potential injury can seem so fateful, it emphasises the impression that Rangers exist on the edge of calamity.

Mark Wilson V Vladimir Weiss the Defender Is Arguably Enjoying... [Derived Headline]

MARK WILSON v VLADIMIR WEISS The defender is arguably enjoying his best spell in a Celtic jersey after a series of outstanding performances earned him an international debut last week. The former Dundee United player seized on his chance when Cha Du-Ri went to Qatar for the Asian Cup and has now made the right-back slot his own.

Decisions, Decisions, but Which Old Firm Manager has the Bigger Headache?

Afourth Old Firm meeting of the season, within just 14 days of the teams' last encounter, leaves little room for either manager to be unprecedented in his decision making. Walter Smith, in particular, has few options to choose from, while Neil Lennon can at least mull over how to set out his side and which attacking approach to take.

Crosas's Move Is Not-so-Cool

MARC CROSAS yesterday completed a pound(s)300,000 transfer to FC Volga - before quickly departing the sub-zero conditions of Russia for some Spanish sunshine. The former Celtic midfielder has passed a medical and joined the Russian side until the end of December 2014. And, while he has moved to the city of Nizhny Novgorod at a time when it is suffering record lows of -33c, Crosas is now doing warm weather training at Volga's pre-season base in Marbella.

Long Drive to Scotland

ANDY DRIVER is taking baby steps. He has had to given a spate of injuries have limited his season to a mere three substitute appearances for Hearts this season, all coming in the past three matches. Driver has now recovered from knee surgery and persistent thigh problems and is pushing for his first starting since last April at Tynecastle today. The past months of inactivity have been at odds with the furore surrounding the winger prior to his initial injury. Driver had attracted a great deal...

Stack: Leeds Proved You Are Never Too Good to Go Down

GRAHAM STACK knows from bitter experience relegation can come quickly to a team that thinks it's too good to go down. The Hibernian goalkeeper was on loan from Arsenal at Leeds United in 2007 when, just six years after appearing in the Champions League semi-finals, that club were relegated to the third tier of English football.

Proctor Walks Back Into First Team As Team-Mates Drop All Around Him

HAVING missed four months of this season through injury, David Proctor now finds himself the beneficiary of the others' misfortune. Inverness Caledonian Thistle's first team squad has been reduced to its bare bones, but this has allowed Proctor to slip back into a starting slot. Only 16 players were available for last weekend's 3-3 draw with St Mirren, including a 16-year-old striker, Liam Polworth, who the manager, Terry Butcher, admits would not otherwise have made the bench this early in h...

Boxing ; Clever

aberdeen v kilmarnock Serious bout opens with some light-hearted exchanges MIXU PAATELAINEN is in a playful mood. The Kilmarnock manager takes a seat and is immediately told that Craig Brown, his Aberdeen counterpart, has compared the Rugby Park outfit to Barcelona. A brief silence ensues, before the Finn beams and quips: "In that case I would liken Aberdeen to Real Madrid. Is this the new El Clasico?"

Annan Athletic V Albion Rovers Harry Cairney, the Annan Manager,... [Derived Headline]

Annan Athletic v Albion Rovers Harry Cairney, the Annan manager, is looking for his team to improve their home form, having not won at Galabank since mid- October - on a day when today's opponents were the visitors.

Flynn Gives Elvis Show Rave Review

RYAN FLYNN, the Falkirk midfielder, has defended the touchline conduct of his manager, Steven Pressley, who attracted criticism from Dunfermline Athletic supporters with his enthusiastic celebration of his side's opener in a 1-1 draw at East End Park in midweek. Pressley reacted to Tam Scobbie's strike by turning to the main stand with his arms aloft and has, since taking charge midway through last season, shown as much emotion as a manager as he did as a player - and Flynn would not have it ...

No Time to Be Pedantic, Winning Ugly Is Fine, Says Reid

BILLY REID, the Hamilton Academical manager, does not remember the quality of his side's performance in their last visit to Fir Park particularly fondly, yet he will not complain should they garner another victory against their Lanarkshire rivals with a similarly gritty performance. Hamilton enjoyed their first win of the season away to Motherwell back in October but since then have failed to build on that result, and remain rooted to the bottom of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League. They hav...

Brazil Ticket Price Boost

SCOTLAND supporters will pay at least pound(s)30 a ticket for their friendly against Brazil next month. The Tartan Army will travel to London for the first time since 1999 for the friendly at the Emirates Stadium. There were fears that ticket prices would be upwards of pound(s)60 for the match, which is regarded as a Brazil home fixture. However, Scotland Supporters Club members have been informed 2500 of them will pay pound(s)30 and nd the remaining fans will pay pound(s)35, with no ballot p...

Down to Players to Keep County Up, Says Striker

JIMMY CALDERWOOD has his first match in charge of Ross County at Dunfermline this afternoon but Andrew Barrowman, the Victoria Park striker, says it is up to the players, not the new manager, to ensure the club avoids relegation. Barrowman said responsibility for a run of seven league games without a win, which has left last season's beaten Scottish Cup finalists in ninth place in the first division, must lie with the squad rather than Willie McStay, Calderwood's predecessor, who was sacked l...

United Face Fixture Jam

DUNDEE UNITED's recently-postponed match with Hamilton Academical has been rescheduled for Thursday, March 10. The game was originally meant to be played on Boxing Day and was postponed again on Wednesday night, when referee Willie Collum ruled the Tannadice pitch was waterlogged. The decision means United will play four Clydesdale Bank Premier League games in 13 days, with another match against Rangers still to be rearranged.

Today (3pm Unless Stated) Irn-Bru Scottish League * Division 1... [Derived Headline]

TODAY (3pm unless stated) Irn-Bru Scottish League