Scottish Premier League Update

Ali Hannah on the latest from the Scottish Premier League, October 2007

Celtic | Rangers | Scotland

Scotland

James McFadden conjured up a moment of sheer audacity in Paris to send Scotland soaring to the top of Euro 2008 qualifying group B and leave Alex McLeish's side with genuine hope of reaching next summer's finals. The Everton striker justified his manager's selection of him in a lone role in the Parc des Princes by striking a remarkable 67th minute shot that secured a valuable 1-0 win, matching the defeat inflicted by Scotland in Glasgow 11 months ago. McFadden's twelfth goal for his country - a dipping effort from 35 yards - could be the most valuable if it propels the Scots to next summer's finals in Austria and Switzerland.

The success was celebrated raucously by 15,000 Scotland fans who had procured tickets to drown out the hosts, including Sir Alex Ferguson. The Manchester United manager would have been proud of the defensive organisation of McLeish, his former player at Aberdeen. Asked if Scotland could qualify, McLeish simply replied: "We can!"

McLeish described the result as "one of the best in modern times" for Scotland. "We were not given a prayer but we believed that we could do it," the manager said. "We knew it would be tough. How many countries have won in Paris against France? We needed everyone to be at their best and we played with shape and discipline and the players did it superbly.

"We knew we had to weather the storm from France and then James McFadden hit an inspirational goal. He is capable of doing something different and that was a bit special. I never named the team until just after the pre-match meal and I was going to give James a different role but I just felt he could do something up front."

Afterwards, McFadden could barely contain his joy. "It is a fantastic result," the forward said. "We beat them at Hampden and that was classed as an upset but come here and beat them in a qualifying game is unbelievable.

"I don't remember a better result. France are one of the best teams in the world. It was not pretty at times but we defended well and then I was lucky enough to score. It was just one of those things - I thought, ‘Hit it now and think about it later.' I believe that we can win the other games now."

An indication of the task is that France had not lost at home since 1999. One point would have been precious enough, never mind three. Indeed, the French have only lost two of the last 46 games under Raymond Domenech: the 2006 World Cup final to Italy, albeit on penalties, and to Scotland at Hampden last October.

Success and failure seems to be cyclical in nature and it is a decade and a half since Scotland had a team capable of performing on a European stage, let alone a world one.

The belief, organisation and gritty determination initiated during Walter Smith's era has created a momentum that McLeish is continuing to fuel with his down-to-earth and modest management style. No matter the outcome over the next few months, hopefully leading to participation in Austria and Switzerland, the team, management, support staff and the SFA have given the nation a self-belief and pride that was absent for so long.

Celtic Roundup

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It's been a topsy-turvy time for Gordon Strachan in Glasgow this month. The Parkhead side have forced their way back to the summit of the SPL – albeit on goal difference – but defeat in their opening game in the Champions League away to Shakhtar Donetsk coupled with a disastrous 3-2 defeat away to Hibs have dented the confidence somewhat of the Hoops.

Polish goalkeeper Artur Boruc, so often a standout for Celtic, particularly in the European arena, had a nightmare at Easter Road when they lost to Hibs and his two howlers threw the points away.

Strachan, though, was inevitably defensive of his keeper. "Things like that happen during a game and there is nothing you can do about it as a manager. Myself, as a manager, have to deal with a couple of mistakes. He does not come in after games for us and say, 'How good am I?', so I would not expect him to get too down on himself.

"Artur's a top-class goalkeeper and he has a mental strength that is absolutely fantastic. You need that to get to the top. We are just happy that Artur Boruc is the Celtic goalkeeper.

"There was a lot of pressure on him in our next game against Dundee and he was brilliant. But he's a huge personality and nothing bothers him. He does that for us all the time so it's nothing new.

"He didn't have a great day against Hibs that day and felt a bit of injustice about the result because he felt the boys had done enough to get him out of that hole.

"A reporter asked me if I would drop him and I started to laugh before I realised he was being serious. He has been excellent for us since he came here and one bad day can't be held against him."

Meanwhile, former AC Milan star Ruud Gullit has urged Celtic to follow the example of Rangers as they attempt to steer their way out of the group stages of the Champions League.

Last season, the Hoops made it into the last 16 of the competition where they were put out of the competition by eventual winners AC Milan after an extra-time winner by Kaka.

Their progress to the knockout stages was rated by Gullit as "a surprise to everyone and it will be difficult for them to surprise teams that way again." To do so, they will require to replicate home form that allows them to boast a record of nine wins, two draws and one defeat in group games at Celtic Park.

"They must make their home games count," he says. "They must bring into the Milan game the same mentality that allowed them to beat Manchester United last year. "Even, they must follow the lead of Glasgow Rangers. They fought for their win over Stuttgart in the old-fashioned Scottish way. They did very well and fed off the crowd and that is how both Scottish teams must use their home advantage."

That will become a more difficult proposition for Celtic if they are forced to do without Shunsuke Nakamura through injury. "He is the team's really good player," Gullit says. "He has the ability and the vision and I like the fact that he is able to show these qualities in Europe."

Nakamura has missed the last few games with a knee injury but is fighting to be back in time for the October Champions League meeting with AC Milan. The Japanese playmaker has been Celtic's inspirational performer in the competition with his expertise from deadball situations making him a real threat and one of the few players who can give Celtic an edge against prestigious opponents.

"We would like him in there, that's for sure," said Strachan. "When he is on his game he is a genius at work and he is the kind of player we can't afford to miss on these nights."

Strachan, meanwhile, is to appeal a two-match ban slapped on him by the SFA this week after a complicated inquest into an ongoing dispute between the Celtic manager and Stuart Dougal, one of Scotland's leading referees, which wound up before the SFA's disciplinary committee at Hampden Park.

Strachan was contesting a four-match dugout ban which was the automatic punishment for being sent to the stand for a second time by Dougal at Celtic Park in April. Earlier last season, in August at Tynecastle, the Celtic manager had also been ordered from his technical area by the referee. Strachan's appeal yesterday was partially successful. While the SFA ruled that the original red card offence should stand - thus backing Dougal - the governing body still found it within its wisdom to halve the Celtic manager's punishment from four matches to two.

"Celtic are disappointed and surprised at the decision and we will be lodging an appeal," a spokesman said. The drawn-out case has given a distinct impression of bad blood between Strachan and Dougal, and it has been noted that the referee has hardly been near a Celtic match since their April spat. While Strachan protests his innocence, Dougal, a widely-respected Scottish and former Uefa referee, has privately held concerns about Strachan's conduct towards him. Dougal feels that Strachan verbally abused him during the course of the 90 minutes at Celtic Park.

Rangers

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Steven Naismith believes Scotland's win over France has made the rest of Europe sit up and give a bit of respect to Scottish football.

The 21-year-old, who completed his £2m move from Kilmarnock to Rangers at the last hour of the transfer market, believes that European clubs will be wary of writing off the Old Firm when they come to meet them in the Champions League.

Walter Smith's side beat Stuttgart in their opening game in Group ‘E' but with games against Lyon and Barcelona looming, the Ibrox side have their work cut out if they are to make their way into the group stages of the competition.

It's new territory for Naismith, who can't wait to test himself at this level.

'He said: "We're one of the lesser teams in the Champions League and in the group as the fourth seeds but Scotland winning in Paris might have been a wee wake-up call for Lyon.

"They might have thought of us as the whipping boys in the group before that happened. But now that Scotland have beaten France twice inside a year I think they are bound to be wary."

Alan Hutton, David Weir, Barry Ferguson and Lee McCulloch all contributed to that incredible 1-0 victory over France and will be looking for a repeat with Rangers.

"The boys who played for Scotland in Paris - and we had four of them - have shown it can be done," said Naismith. "I'm sure the likes of Lyon and Barcelona will have had Rangers watched and they will know what we are about. They will also have taken note of the fact that we beat Stuttgart.

"The group is perhaps going to be more open than everyone first thought. If we can get points at home and maybe pick something up away then we'll have a chance."

Naismith failed to make the squad for the visit of Stuttgart but is hoping to realise his dream of playing in the Champions League with Rangers this term.

"It is great being a part of the Champions League," he said. "The thought you might of being involved and competing with the best clubs on the continent drives you. Yes, I watched it as a Killie player on Tuesday and Wednesday nights and wondered: 'How good would it be to be playing at that level?'

"Maybe now I might get the chance but I won't count my chickens. I'm glad to be in the squad and I know I am far away from playing in that competition every week."

As for domestic duties, Naismith admits Rangers will need to work harder in league matches to avoid dropping more points, having now drawn with Motherwell and lost to Hearts this month.

As a former Killie player, he is all too aware of just how much teams are willing to raise their game against the Old Firm.

"It was tough for us and Motherwell are playing well under Mark McGhee," he said. "They worked hard for 90 minutes and were in our face throughout. I think we need to up our performance in forthcoming games. When the Old Firm come to town, the opposition tend to up their game a few gears.

"I know that having played at Kilmarnock and now I'm on the other side of the fence. It is something I will need to adapt to and we must try and show our qualities, impose ourselves on the game more than we managed at Motherwell. We have to put our stamp on the game to get the wins Rangers need."