SATURDAY JURY
Record Sport’s top team tackle the big issues
1 CRAIG LEVEIN has won just once in 24 games against Rangers as Hearts boss but will he change the record at Tynecastle tomorrow?
HARD to see how Hearts can stop Rangers given the form of both sides. Levein’s team need a big improvement to get a positive result.
PROBABLY not. Rangers should have too much for Hearts and it could be another difficult day for Jambos boss Levein.
TYNECASTLE has a reputation as being a fortress but has been more like a bouncy castle this season. They will need a radical upturn in form to avoid a comfortable Rangers win but if the Jambos drag Gers in to a battle they might pinch a point. Don’t bet on it.
2 WHO will come out on top in today’s Premiership basement battle between the Perth and Paisley Saints?
ST MIRREN have been more solid defensively this term but struggle to score. This match has draw written all over it.
NOBODY. It will be a draw between two clubs who need to start finding a way to score goals. That has been the biggest failing for both teams so far this season.
ST JOHNSTONE have been sharper in front of goal than their Paisley pals but at some point the Buddies are going to click. There’s too much on the line to expect a six-goal thriller but a point apiece would be a likely outcome that will leave neither side satisfied.
3 WILL Celtic and Rangers make it a week to remember in Europe?
THESE are the glamour games of the group for both teams and avoiding defeat would be respectable. It would also keep both sides in good positions in their section.
RANGERS could find Porto a bridge too far as it’s another huge step up and Celtic could be in the same against Lazio. Hopefully I’m wrong on both counts.
TOO right. Porto are a top side but Rangers are often at their best when digging in and hitting on the break. Gers can pinch a priceless point. Celtic are due one of the great Euro nights and this could be it. Neil Lennon’s men can beat the faded Serie A giants at Parkhead.
4 HAVE the rugby boys got off lightly after their early World Cup exit?
THE typhoon blew away the caning they should have got. Scotland were awful in the opening game, beat two bunnies and then lost to Japan when it really counted.
NO. There will be a mass exodus of players who have been loyal servants and Scotland did what they always do, flatter to deceive before falling just short.
THEY’VE had a ridiculously easy ride. It seems everyone has got caught up in the romantic Japan story and ignored the fact Scotland only turned up for two halves in the entire tournament. We can’t just allow the international side to settle for slipping into the second tier of world rugby.