Fixing domestic form 'key' if Ferguson to stay as Rangers boss
Rangers having nothing to fear when facing Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League quarter-finals, according to Alex Rae, as the former assistant manager challenged the club to return to the San Mames Stadium for the final in May.Rangers progressed to the last eight with a penalty shootout win over Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce.Rae, who left Ibrox along with Philippe Clement last month, says his old side should enter the tie with "plenty of confidence" given their recent exploits in the competition, particularly reaching the final in 2022."Athletic Bilbao are a very decent outfit, they're fourth in La Liga," Rae told BBC Radio Scotland. "That tells you about the kind of opposition they're up against. "But one of the key things over the last four or five years is that Rangers have pulled out some really big moments in this competition against big, big clubs, so they'll go into it with plenty of confidence. "It suits them as well with this transitional moment they're in, with a low block, being compact, trying to hit teams on the break."Playing in Europe has long suited Rangers' style, but Rae says building on last weekend's derby win by improving their domestic form is key for Ferguson if he wishes to secure the position on a permanent basis."Going forward between now and the summer, that's key for Barry and his team," Rae added."That might strengthen his hand in terms of getting the job permanently. "It would be great to go to Bilbao again in the summer having been to Seville a couple of years ago, but the domestic form needs to be a lot more positive, particularly the away form."The home form in the league was fine, up until the St Mirren game a few weeks ago."It was competitive - the type of form would have given you a crack at the title - but unfortunately we couldn't maintain that away from home."
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The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
How every Scotland player rated in Iceland friendly defeat
Angus Gunn - 5/10 Goalkeeper's night came to an abrupt end six minutes in. Gunn went up to claim a high Icelandic ball inside his own area and fell harshly on his right leg. After attention from the medical specialists, the man without a club was forced to come off, a painstaking look written over his face as he limped towards the tunnel. Debutant Cieran Slicker replaced the 29-year-old. Max Johnston - 7/10 Making his first Scotland start, the full-back caught the eye. Fresh off the back of winning the Austrian Bundesliga, Johnston spread his legs down the right-hand side and proved a threat going forward. Showed his architectural instincts when whipping a teasing corner towards the back post from which John Souttar drew the Scots level. Read more: John Souttar - 7/10 Rangers man made it 1-1 with a fine header. Souttar adeptly made use of his physical frame to power away from his marker and divert the ball into the back of the net for his second international goal. Had little to do in the way of defending. Grant Hanley - 6/10 Steve Clarke's loyalty to Hanley, a man who played most of his football last season in England's third tier, is at times questionable. Scotland's defence wasn't continually under pressure for spells, and the veteran did make an eye-catching run forward at 3-1 Iceland, only for his shot to be saved well. Kieran Tierney - 6/10 Defender registered his 50th cap, taking up a familiar role on the left side of a traditional back three. Had the license to maraud forward, linking up with skipper Andy Robertson. Celtic supporters will have been pleased to see the full-back come through unscathed as he prepares to make an emotional return to Parkhead this summer. Andy Robertson - 6/10 Robertson got up and down the left-hand side with ease and proved a real attacking threat for Scotland. His decision-making in the final third lacked at times, though, with some of his crosses either overhit or blocked. Lewis Ferguson - 5/10 Bologna captain had a relatively quiet evening in the engine room. The ball unfortunately deflected off Ferguson to restore Iceland's lead right on half-time. He remained helpless in the stramash, and Slicker should likely have done better to prevent the own goal from transpiring. John McGinn - 4/10 A poignant pre-match moment saw a minute's silence held in memory of McGinn's late grandfather, Jack. The 30-year-old's most notable involvement in the match, however, was when he kicked the ball at an opponent in frustration after tracking back and fouling. Billy Gilmour - 5/10 A quiet evening for Gilmour, who looked to keep play ticking over in a deep-lying midfield role. Napoli man completed a full 90 minutes but didn't do much of note. Scott McTominay - 6/10 Scudetto winner was the liveliest of Scotland's midfielders. Drove forward from the engine room countless times and looked like the threat he usually is. One of his runs saw the ball bounce off Iceland stopper Elias Olafsson and into the path of George Hirst, who tapped into an empty net, only for his goal to be disallowed for offside. George Hirst - 5/10 Ipswich Town forward proved a threat on his maiden Scotland start. Should have had the ball in the back of the Iceland net in the first half when he was presented with a free header six yards out. Hirst then forced Olafsson into the save of the night just prior to the hour mark. Substitutes Cieran Slicker (Gunn 6') - 2/10 Keeper made just one club appearance last season, and it showed. Although young Slicker was making his senior international bow, one would expect better. Presented the ball to the feet of Andri Gudjohnsen for Iceland's opener before it slipped through his arms and into the back of the net to make it 2-1 to the visitors after a stramash in the box. Bad got worse for the 22-year-old in the second 45 when Victor Palsson's diving header went straight through his palms. Lennon Miller (Tierney 69') - 6/10 A memorable moment for the teenager, who was introduced with just over 20 minutes to go for his senior Scotland bow. Miller didn't have much of an opportunity to impact proceedings on a considerable level, but Friday evening won't be the last we see of him in dark blue. Scott McKenna (Hanley 69') - 5/10 Centre-half had little to do in the way of defending when he came on in place of Hanley. Numerous passes along the backline and into midfield, a theme of Scotland's evening, were played by McKenna. Che Adams (Hirst 69') - 5/10 Involved to an extent when introduced, although had next to no chances in front of goal. Nathan Patterson (Johnston 81') - 5/10 Made his return to the international scene with a late cameo. Similarly to his fellow substitutes, Patterson didn't contribute much to a dull display. Conway (McTominay 81') - 5/10 Striker was thrown on in a late plea to salvage something. His and Clarke's efforts were sadly of no avail.
The National
an hour ago
- The National
How every Scotland player rated in Iceland friendly defeat
Here is how every player who wore dark blue rated. Angus Gunn - 5/10 Goalkeeper's night came to an abrupt end six minutes in. Gunn went up to claim a high Icelandic ball inside his own area and fell harshly on his right leg. After attention from the medical specialists, the man without a club was forced to come off, a painstaking look written over his face as he limped towards the tunnel. Debutant Cieran Slicker replaced the 29-year-old. Max Johnston - 7/10 Making his first Scotland start, the full-back caught the eye. Fresh off the back of winning the Austrian Bundesliga, Johnston spread his legs down the right-hand side and proved a threat going forward. Showed his architectural instincts when whipping a teasing corner towards the back post from which John Souttar drew the Scots level. Read more: John Souttar - 7/10 Rangers man made it 1-1 with a fine header. Souttar adeptly made use of his physical frame to power away from his marker and divert the ball into the back of the net for his second international goal. Had little to do in the way of defending. Grant Hanley - 6/10 Steve Clarke's loyalty to Hanley, a man who played most of his football last season in England's third tier, is at times questionable. Scotland's defence wasn't continually under pressure for spells, and the veteran did make an eye-catching run forward at 3-1 Iceland, only for his shot to be saved well. Kieran Tierney - 6/10 Defender registered his 50th cap, taking up a familiar role on the left side of a traditional back three. Had the license to maraud forward, linking up with skipper Andy Robertson. Celtic supporters will have been pleased to see the full-back come through unscathed as he prepares to make an emotional return to Parkhead this summer. Andy Robertson - 6/10 Robertson got up and down the left-hand side with ease and proved a real attacking threat for Scotland. His decision-making in the final third lacked at times, though, with some of his crosses either overhit or blocked. Lewis Ferguson - 5/10 Bologna captain had a relatively quiet evening in the engine room. The ball unfortunately deflected off Ferguson to restore Iceland's lead right on half-time. He remained helpless in the stramash, and Slicker should likely have done better to prevent the own goal from transpiring. John McGinn - 4/10 A poignant pre-match moment saw a minute's silence held in memory of McGinn's late grandfather, Jack. The 30-year-old's most notable involvement in the match, however, was when he kicked the ball at an opponent in frustration after tracking back and fouling. Billy Gilmour - 5/10 A quiet evening for Gilmour, who looked to keep play ticking over in a deep-lying midfield role. Napoli man completed a full 90 minutes but didn't do much of note. Scott McTominay - 6/10 Scudetto winner was the liveliest of Scotland's midfielders. Drove forward from the engine room countless times and looked like the threat he usually is. One of his runs saw the ball bounce off Iceland stopper Elias Olafsson and into the path of George Hirst, who tapped into an empty net, only for his goal to be disallowed for offside. George Hirst - 5/10 Ipswich Town forward proved a threat on his maiden Scotland start. Should have had the ball in the back of the Iceland net in the first half when he was presented with a free header six yards out. Hirst then forced Olafsson into the save of the night just prior to the hour mark. Substitutes Cieran Slicker (Gunn 6') - 2/10 Keeper made just one club appearance last season, and it showed. Although young Slicker was making his senior international bow, one would expect better. Presented the ball to the feet of Andri Gudjohnsen for Iceland's opener before it slipped through his arms and into the back of the net to make it 2-1 to the visitors after a stramash in the box. Bad got worse for the 22-year-old in the second 45 when Victor Palsson's diving header went straight through his palms. Lennon Miller (Tierney 69') - 6/10 A memorable moment for the teenager, who was introduced with just over 20 minutes to go for his senior Scotland bow. Miller didn't have much of an opportunity to impact proceedings on a considerable level, but Friday evening won't be the last we see of him in dark blue. Scott McKenna (Hanley 69') - 5/10 Centre-half had little to do in the way of defending when he came on in place of Hanley. Numerous passes along the backline and into midfield, a theme of Scotland's evening, were played by McKenna. Che Adams (Hirst 69') - 5/10 Involved to an extent when introduced, although had next to no chances in front of goal. Nathan Patterson (Johnston 81') - 5/10 Made his return to the international scene with a late cameo. Similarly to his fellow substitutes, Patterson didn't contribute much to a dull display. Conway (McTominay 81') - 5/10 Striker was thrown on in a late plea to salvage something. His and Clarke's efforts were sadly of no avail.
STV News
an hour ago
- STV News
Scotland suffer defeat to Iceland in Hampden friendly
Scotland have suffered defeat to Iceland in a disappointing night at Hampden. The visitors ran out 3-1 winners in Glasgow on Friday, in what was the national team's first game since the Nations League play-off against Greece in March. Andri Guðjohnsen opened the scoring after just nine minutes with an unstoppable strike that flew into the top corner. Rangers defender John Souttar headed home the equaliser midway through the first half when he turned a corner from Max Johnston into the net. Iceland had the lead again just before the break, thanks to an own-goal by Lewis Ferguson, and Victor Palsson made it three at the start of the second 45. One positive from the night was seeing a host of young players given the opportunity to impress at international level. Max Johnston and George Hirst were handed their first starts, and were two of Scotland's better players, with teenage Motherwell star Lennon Miller and Ipswich youngster Cieran Slicker both earning their first caps from the bench. But other than that, it was a night to forget for the Tartan Army, particularly the 30,000 in attendance. Steve Clarke was forced into making the first change of the match when Angus Gunn limped off after just seven minutes following a collision and awkward landing. Slicker was his replacement, and he had to pick the ball out of the net just moments later following Guðjohnsen's strike that made it 1-0. The Gent forward is the son of former Chelsea and Barcelona star Eidur Guðjohnsen, who played 88 times for Iceland during his prestigious career. Scotland's goal also came from the son of a former international star, this time an assist, from Johnston, whose dad Allan won 18 caps between 1998 and 2002. The Sturm Graz right back, making his first start for the national team, provided the corner from which Souttar scored from to make it 1-1. Bologna captain Ferguson then turned the ball into his own net in first-half injury-time to put the visitors 2-1 up at the break. The second half was just five minutes old when Palsson headed past Slicker to extend Iceland's lead. George Hirst thought he had thrown Scotland a lifeline when he had the ball in the net on the hour mark, but his effort was ruled out for offside. SPFL Young Player of the Year Lennon Miller won his first cap when he was introduced into the action with 25 minutes left to play. Overall, it was very much a night to forget for Clarke and his players at the end of what has been a long season for many of them. But they will have to pick themselves up again for the game against Liechtenstein on Monday before they can enjoy a summer break. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
