Back Within Three!

McDonald Gets Back On Target In Away Win Over Bottom-Of-The-Table Gretna

By Tony Quinn

Scott McDonald scored his first goal in six games as Celtic overpowered Gretna 3-0 on Sunday to cut Rangers's lead at the top of the SPL to just three points ahead of this weekend's game at Ibrox. McDonald opened the scoring at Almondvale three minutes before half-time when he was first to react to a flick-on from Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and shot home from close range. In the 70th minute Vennegoor of Hesselink headed in a cross from Aiden McGeady past goalkeeper Greg Fleming.

Substitute Georgios Samaras, on for McDonald, completed the scoring two minutes from time. The match was played at First Division Livingston's ground after persistent problems with a waterlogged pitch at Motherwell's Fir Park, the temporary base of Gretna, who cannot play league matches at Raydale Park because it does not meet SPL standards.

After the game Gordon Strachan turned his attention to this week's game with Rangers. "Once we scored we were reasonably comfortable," he said. "But we played a lot better in the previous two games without getting the breaks. I'm really looking forward to it," he said when asked about the forthcoming visit to Rangers. "Their form has been exceptional - they've won their last 12 games," said the manager. "In our last 11, we've won 10 and drawn one."

Rangers face a pile-up of games due to their involvement in the Uefa Cup, Scottish Cup and two outstanding SPL matches but Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell has said any extension to the season would "threaten the integrity" of the competition. Gordon Strachan would not be drawn on either comment but said: "In 1983 at Aberdeen, Willie Miller and Alex McLeish played about 73 games and I don't think we extended the league. We got a good season out of it so we would advocate just getting on with it."

Georgios Samaras has told Gordon Strachan he would like the opportunity to face Rangers in this weekend's game clash at Ibrox. Samaras has restored his confidence at Parkhead following a frustrating spell at Man City and should Strachan hand him a chance against Rangers, the forward insists he will not let him down. "It doesn't matter if I play against Gretna, Rangers or Barcelona, I think I can score in all games," he said. "I am not afraid of the games and I don't feel under any pressure. I will just enjoy it. But it is not up to me, it is up to the gaffer, he will decide if I play against Rangers. We will see what happens." Samaras added.

Former Celtic player John Cushley has died at the age of 65. John passed away peacefully in the early hours of Monday, March 24, 2008. Born in Hamilton January 1943, John was a center-half who joined Celtic in July 1960, making his debut against Kilmarnock in March 1963. Over the next four years he made a total of 41 appearances for the club before moving south in 1967 to West Ham United. After two years in London he returned to Scotland with Dunfermline and moved to Dumbarton in 1972. A Modern Languages graduate of the University of Glasgow, John famously acted as interpreter in 1964 when he and Jimmy McGrory traveled to Spain to try and persuade Alfredo Di Stefano to sign for Celtic. After hanging up his boots John enjoyed a successful career in teaching and in recent years returned to Celtic as the club's Education Officer. He retired last summer through ill health after having being diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease.

Reports say Blackburn Rovers manager Mark Hughes has targeted a summer move for Celtic midfielder Thomas Gravesen. Gravesen is currently on loan at Everton but still has more than a year left on his contract at Celtic. However, he is unlikely to resurrect his Parkhead career, with Gordon Strachan keen to cut his high salary from the wage-bill at the earliest opportunity. And Blackburn chief Hughes is keen on the 32-year-old Dane, possibly as a replacement for veteran Turkish midfielder Tugay.

Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness has refuted reports suggesting that Bayern are targeting Arthur Boruc as a replacement to Oliver Kahn. The legendary Kahn will retire by the end of the season, and reports claimed that Sepp Maier is monitoring Boruc. "There is absolutely nothing in the story, it's a strange story. Maier wasn't there. From beginning to end, there is no truth in it," he told the club's official site. Moreover, chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has also brushed aside the rumor, insisting that Michael Rensing will be Kahn's successor between the sticks. "It's nonsense to think that Sepp Maier is looking for a goalkeeper for Jurgen Klinsmann. We certainly won't be spending €13 million on another keeper," he said. "We have assured him that he is our number one. That assurance remains. Therefore everything else is just not an issue." he said.