Rickoza

WEEK 34 TOP SIX Saturday April 21 Hearts v Rangers – 3pm St Johnstone v Dundee United – 12.30pm (ESPN) Sunday April 22 Motherwell v Celtic – 2pm (Sky Sports) BOTTOM SIX Saturday April 21 Inverness CT v Aberdeen – 3pm St Mirren v Dunfermline – 3pm Sunday April 22 Hibernian v Kilmarnock – 3pm WEEK 35 TOP SIX Saturday April 28 Dundee United v Hearts – 12.30pm (ESPN) Motherwell v St Johnstone – 3pm Sunday April 29 Celtic v Rangers – 12.45pm (Sky Sports) BOTTOM SIX Saturday April 28 Dunfermline v Aberdeen – 3pm Kilmarnock v Inverness CT – 3pm Sunday April 29 St Mirren v Hibernian – 3.15pm (Sky Sports) WEEK 36 TOP SIX Tuesday May 1 Hearts v Motherwell – 7.45pm (Sky Sports) Wednesday May 2 Rangers v Dundee United – 7.45pm (Sky Sports) Thursday May 3 Celtic v St Johnstone – 7.45pm BOTTOM SIX Wednesday May 2 Aberdeen v Hibernian – 7.45pm Inverness CT v Dunfermline – 7.45pm Kilmarnock v St Mirren – 7.45pm WEEK 37 TOP SIX Saturday May 5 Rangers v Motherwell – 12.45pm (Sky Sports) Sunday May 6 Dundee United v Celtic – 12.45pm (Sky Sports) Hearts v St Johnstone – 3pm BOTTOM SIX Saturday May 5 Kilmarnock v Aberdeen – 3pm St Mirren v Inverness CT – 3pm Monday May 7 Hibernian v Dunfermline – 7.45pm (ESPN) WEEK 38 TOP SIX Sunday May 13 Celtic v Hearts – 12.30pm (Sky Sports) Motherwell v Dundee United – 12.30pm St Johnstone v Rangers – 12.30pm BOTTOM SIX Saturday May 12 Aberdeen v St Mirren – 3pm Dunfermline v Kilmarnock – 3pm Inverness CT v Hibernian – 3pm

Guy at the SPL told me midweek this week, probably Wednesday.

This week-ends Referees named. Oh dear........ Saturday April 7 Aberdeen v Dundee United - Calum Murray Dunfermline v Hearts - Stephen Finnie Kilmarnock v Celtic - Alan Muir(Live on ESPN, 12 noon) Rangers v St Mirren - Willie Collum St Johnstone v Inverness CT - Kevin Clancy Sunday April 8 Hibernian v Motherwell - Stevie O'Reilly(Live on ESPN, 12.30pm)

DARREN RANDOLPH last night vouched for Sone Aluko’s innocence in the latest dive storm – and confessed he DID foul the Rangers winger. Aluko was booked for simulation by ref Iain Brines after a clash with Motherwell No.1 Randolph during Gers’ 2-1 weekend win at Fir Park. Having already copped a two-match ban for diving against Dunfermline this season, Aluko risked being dragged back into the SFA dock. But Randolph last night cleared Aluko’s name by revealing he caught the Ibrox ace in the first-half incident. The keeper was even expecting a red card as Brines ran towards him and was shocked when the yellow was produced for his victim. Randolph said: “People on the sidelines heard me kick his shinpad so I don’t know how the ref missed it. “Everyone saw it and I was sat on the floor waiting for my marching orders so I don’t know why the referee didn’t give it. “I definitely made contact. I missed the ball and got him but the ref booked him instead so I wasn’t going to complain. “Sone said something to me but I told him it wasn’t my problem as I don’t give the red cards or penalties. “He kind of shrugged me off so I left him to it. I put an arm over his shoulder and he threw it back in my face. I just said to him, ‘What do you want me to do?’” Aluko’s past reputation may have haunted him and Randolph added: “If people feel he goes down too easily, and I am not saying he does, then that can definitely play a part in situations.” It appears a clear case of injustice but there is no mechanism in place for the SFA to rescind the yellow card and Randolph insists it’s just part of the game. He said: “The referee has seen the situation and made his decision. If you go back and start taking away yellow cards then everyone has an argument. “You would have people complaining and moaning every week. It’s just football. Talking points happen every week.” Randolph, however, reckons Aluko had the last laugh when Brines failed to spot his nudge on Tim Clancy in the lead-up to Lee McCulloch’s last-gasp winner. He said: “It was happening all game, McCulloch was doing the same. I was waiting for the whistle to give a free-kick to us but obviously it never came and then they scored.”

Watching the Inverness - Hibs game. No surprise at all why they are 2nd bottom. Half-decent attack but the rest is guff. Do what we did yesterday with a little more concentration and we'll have no trouble at Easter Road.

Griffiths apart, Hibs really are guff. Looking for that git to get himself into trouble today.

Interesting Could we get both Old Firm teams at Fir Park?

Must have photos of someone. Completely hopeless and clearly favours his favourite team........

Couple of things for the SPL to take note of. Loud pourings of bigoted chants coming from the Rangers fans, and the flares going off duing the second half. These probably won't have been noticed of course, just like there were only SEVEN (I think it was) arrests last week for such chants at an Old Firm game.

Rangers fans were summed up for me on the way home. Car in front of me had FTP as part of is number plate. These 5 Rangers fans stood in front of it taking pictures. Thought we fought well today and were desperately unlucky, their keeper had more to do than Randy I felt and if we keep that up the last six games we'll be okay. Bit of a sticky run just now, but there's no way either United or Saint Johnstone are going to remain unbeaten in the run-in. The two games against them will, however, be crucial.

Don't have a problem with McCall going to this game, most of the Rangers side he played with for a number of years. Still would want AC Milan to welly them though!

That's exactly what I was thinking today. Playing catch up is easy, question is would they handle things any better than us being in our position? I doubt it. You can be sure the players and management will be busting a gut to secure at least third, and if we don't, it won't be for the lack of trying.

The squads from 2002....... Motherwell Dubourdeau, Hammell, Corrigan, Kinniburgh, Cowan, Pearson, Leitch, Partridge, Adams, Lehmann, McFadden Subs - Woods, Ramsey, McDonald, Ferguson, Clarkson Them Klos, Ricksen, Muscat, Amoruso, Moore, Malcolm, Ferguson, De Boer, Canniggia, Mols, Lovenkrands Subs - Dodds, McGregor, MacLean, Reid, Nerlinger

Apparently he's made the 100 already........ Rangers19 Jun, 08 £3,000,000 Lge 65 (37) Goals 30 Sc Cup 8 (3)3 Lge Cup8 (1)4 Europe 5 (8)0 He is, however, one booking away from a suspension. No change in the fact he is an erse.

HENRIK OJAMAA reckons the euphoria of Rangers’ Old Firm triumph can help Motherwell bring them crashing back to earth at Fir Park on Saturday. The Estonian striker is convinced his side can end their 10-year winless jinx over the Ibrox club because Ally McCoist’s men won’t be as motivated as they were against Celtic. Ojamaa attended his first Old Firm clash on Sunday and marvelled at the intensity of the contest in which three players were sent off. And while Gers ran out 3-2 winners with a powerful performance, Ojamaa believes they will struggle to reach those heights at Fir Park. He said: “Saturday is a huge game for us. I was there on Sunday to see my first Old Firm derby and it will be hard for Rangers to repeat that type of performance against us. “It might be difficult for them after a game like that to be as motivated. “Sunday was a great, crazy game with lots of goals and sendings off. It was an important win for Rangers as they’d lost two in a row before that and it will give them more confidence. “But before our defeat to Kilmarnock we’d lost only one of our last nine league games so we are confident. “I’ve been told how long it is since we beat them but records are there to be broken. We believe we can win.” Team-mate Stuart Carswell is similarly optimistic and reckons Motherwell can take advantage of the uncertainty over the future of the administration-hit Ibrox side. Carswell said: “There is not really a better time to play Rangers, given their current situation. “We haven’t beaten them in a while but this is a good chance to get that victory. “If we play the way we have been doing for most of the season there is no reason why we can’t do it.”

Each and every defeat we've had since that Faddy goal is just going to make the game we actually do get it right all the more special I guess!

Recalling days like that give you hope that we can do it. Rangers were streets ahead of the team they have now, this Motherwell side is as comparable to that one as any other. Just shows you that on the day it don't always turn out like folk expect it to.

4th May, 1991, two weeks before Hampden.......... Pretty sure that's Andy P jumping around at 3:31 in after the third. What a day!

Guess they'll know that, for the majority of the season, we have been playing far, far better and defending much more than on Saturday. Stats don't lie.

Got to beat them sometime. And, as it's least expected, this weekend would suffice.

Craig Thomson is the Ref on Saturday. A collective Awwwwwwwww Nawwwwwwwwwwww.

TOM HATELEY concedes Motherwell will ruin a superb season unless they improve on their shoddy Rugby Park show. The Fir Park outfit blew their opportunity to nab second spot in the SPL with a lacklustre performance. Stuart McCall’s team failed to build on a decent opening and were put to the sword by Kenny Shiels’ side. And Hateley said: “It was really disappointing to be so flat. It was a bad day at the office. “We needed to show up because we’ve a lot to play for but we definitely didn’t. “That was one of the most disappointing performances of our season. We need to have a good look at ourselves this week in training and try to pick ourselves up. “It’s not the time of the season for slip-ups and we’ve had a big chat in the changing room about that. “All the hard work we have done up until now counts for nothing if we don’t turn up for games now. “I don’t think there’s fear. As a group we’ve played in big games together in the past, European qualifiers and the like, and we’ve reacted well to pressure. “We didn’t create enough, we weren’t strong enough defensively and, when that’s the case and you’re not keeping clean sheets, you don’t stand a chance. “We learned a harsh lesson and we’ll work hard to put it right.” Hateley’s miserable day was summed up when a penalty was awarded against him when he blocked Garry Hay’s shot. He added: “I said to the referee I’d slid in and covered my chest with my hands but he felt my hands were making my body bigger. “I felt I tried to put them at the side of my body and jump in front of the ball. “It hit my arm but it was disappointing as it was a crucial time of the game to lose a penalty and to go 2-0 down. It was a soul-breaker.”

Aye, straight red.

Got to happen sometime. Got to beat them sometime. Why not now? Kilmarnock given no chance on Sunday, they beat Celtic. We completely horsed Herts, they go to Ibrox and win. It's a funny season, lots of strange results. Kilmarnock lose 3-6 at home to Inverness, 0-3 to Dunfermline both teams we've beaten comfortably at points as well. Just because Rangers have a great record against us for over a decade now doesn't mean it'll continue forever. Aye, we didn't play at all near like we can at Rugby Park, but perhaps we can get it together next week. And if you think we can't, is there really any point in you coming along next Saturday? Anything can happen. And does.