Goram 'wouldn't fear for Rangers' if Old Firm tie transpired

Sports Writer

Thursday 4 October 2012

ANDY GORAM reckons Scotland has waited long enough for an Old Firm derby and would fancy Rangers' chances if the two Glasgow rivals were paired together in today's Scottish Communities League Cup fourth-round draw.

Celtic's Malky Mackay outjumps Andy Goram to score at Parkhead in 1997. Picture: Newsquest

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Stewart Fisher

Such a conclusion is distinctly counter-intuitive: Celtic are riding high on the back of their maiden away Champions League group-stage victory in Moscow on Tuesday evening, while Goram's former club reside in the third division and struggled to get past 10-man Highland League outfit Forres Mechanics in the William Hill Scottish Cup at the weekend.

It might require the Old Firm form book to go out the window as never before, but Goram feels Rangers would be able to raise their game should this fixture arise. "I really would want to play Celtic," said Goram ahead of the draw, which will be conducted by another former Rangers and Scotland goalkeeper, Bobby Brown. "I think it's time we had one. We're only quarter of the way into the season and everyone in the country is missing it. Even the most bitter Rangers and Celtic fans can't say they're not missing the Old Firm games, they're the best games in the world."I wouldn't fear for Rangers, because that game would take care of itself," he added. "In fact I'd bet Rangers. Motherwell had a fantastic start to the season and fully deserve to be up at the top of the league. But they were favourites at Ibrox despite having not won there in a million years and I thought that was strange. Scottish football is a big adventure right now. "Obviously the sponsors would want an Old Firm final. That would be unbelievable. But we'll see if there's a hot ball and cold ball . . ." Goram has been an interested spectator as the Ibrox club have struggled on their travels to such footballing backwaters as Peterhead, Berwick and Annan. But in some ways, he feels it is easier to play on the great arenas of European football than it is to raise your game in front of sparse crowds. Next up on Ally McCoist's side's tour of duty of modest third division grounds is Stirling Albion's Dunblane Doubletree Stadium on Saturday. Although the club will be able to welcome back Dean Shiels and Ian Black, it is time they managed to pick up their away form."It was easier for us to play at Elland Road and Marseille than it is for them to play at Annan and Peterhead, a lot easier," Goram said. "I remember we went down to play a third division team during the nineties, I can't remember who it was, and it was an absolute nightmare. The game was played on a public pitch and there was just one railing around it. It was the same when we played San Marino with Scotland. It's hard work to get yourself going. But these boys are doing it every other week, so they need to get it going pretty quickly."If you look at Coisty's squad, it is a bunch of young kids who have been thrust in to play for Rangers in the third division, and others who have just been brought in," he added. "But they've got to get on with it and get used to it and sort out their away form pretty quickly. The young boys have been brilliant but Lee [McCulloch] has been the standout by a mile."Goram was speaking at the launch of his former Motherwell team-mate Kevin Twaddle's autobiography, which lays bare the winger's battles with gambling, how he used his signing on fees to clear his debts as well as stealing from his family to fuel his habit. Goram can see the similarities in his own battles with alcohol – he has been 11 months without a drink – and is delighted to associate himself with the project."I've all the respect in the world for him," said Goram. "We've all had a bet; it was the same with me. When I first started playing in the eighties, if you went back to the club in the afternoon it was a punishment. In the afternoon you went to the bookies, the pub or a snooker hall – and if you were really lucky all three. That was just the way of life. But the great thing Kevin is doing is showing young players coming through now what can happen. I've not been drinking for 11 months and if I could do the same thing for young players in relation to drinking, I would."Aside from their days together at Motherwell, Twaddle played for St Johnstone, Raith Rovers, Morton and Hearts and Goram feels he was underrated. "People forget what a good player he was – he should have played at a higher level," he said. "I got a text off him a few years ago one night and it said 'on this minute seven years ago I scored the winner against Celtic at Parkhead. Motherwell beat them 1-0 that night with ten men. He remembered the exact date, exact night and exact minute he scored that goal. And he tries to tell me he's not a Rangers fan . . ."* Life on the Line, How to Lose a Million and so Much More, Kevin Twaddle with Scott Burns, is produced by Black & White Publishing.

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Goram 'wouldn't fear for Rangers' if Old Firm tie transpired

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