KEARNEY: WE WON’T PARK BUS THIS TIME
ORAN KEARNEY doesn’t plan on parking the bus against Rangers despite that ultra-defensive blueprint earning him his only point as St Mirren manager against Celtic.
The Buddies boss watched his side battle to a goalless draw against 10-man Hoops on his dugout debut in Paisley.
That pointed to brighter things to come under the Irishman who replaced Alan Stubbs but they’ve lost six on the spin to leave them just a point above bottom side Dundee.
Next up is the visit of Steven Gerrard’s side who are without a win in three in all competitions and starting to feel a little bit of heat – and Kearney wants to go for the jugular.
The Saints boss, who watched his side lose 2-0 at home to Motherwell on Wednesday, said: “We parked the bus against Celtic. In the first half we countered quite well on the break and had a couple of chances but even with Celtic down to 10 men in the second half, I don’t remember us having too many opportunities.
“Rangers have players of quality and one flick or one flash can ruin your whole set-up. If we were to plan BY GAVIN BERRY to sit in and say from a set-piece or a moment of magic after seven minutes they go 1-0 up, then your plan is out the window.
“You can’t have all your eggs in one basket. Could we go ahead on Saturday? What sort of a shot in the arm would that be.
“The game is on TV, it will be a full house, if the players can’t be up and at it for that game then they never will be. Our home performances in general have been good and it is important we get on the front foot and ask Rangers a few questions.”
Kearney will have to wait until January before he can sign players and put his own stamp on the Paisley side.
But he said: “I’ve seen a huge amount in relation to how I would like it to look moving forward.
“I have my ways I like to play the game and build a team and it’s hard to do that until you get your own angle on it.
“But at the same time I’m analysing the players, we’ve got to see if we can do something that fits and works to give them the best possible chance to be successful.”