RANGERS v ST MIRREN
NIKO KATIC soared to great heights to become an Old Firm hero and his kid brother barely saw a thing.
The Rangers defender wrote himself into the Ibrox history books when he netted his team’s winner at Celtic Park on December 29.
It swung the title balance back towards the Light Blues as Rangers prepare for a run of four Premiership games from five at home over the next three weeks.
Katic, 23, has seized his chance in the absence of Swede Filip Helander who injured his foot in the Final of the Betfred Cup.
It was a family affair at Parkhead as his younger brother Antonijo, 20, a keeper in the Croatian lower leagues, took in the match with the 800 travelling fans.
He was joined by the father and brother of countryman Borna Barisic in standing with the Ibrox support but Niko revealed his sibling didn’t even see him celebrate the match winner in the 2-1 victory as he was
BY GARY RALSTON g.ralston@ dailyrecord.co.uk swamped by delirious fans.
Katic said: “My brother said he had an amazing time at the game. He said after I scored he didn’t see any of the celebrations as he had 20 people on his back.
“We are quite similar in the face so people recognise him as my brother. In fact, there have even been occasions in town when people have approached to have their photo taken with him thinking he’s me.
“It was very special for him to be at an Old Firm game again.
“He has been to a game at Ibrox too but said the atmosphere was better at Celtic Park because when you shut up 55,000 people it’s really amazing.
“It was a special moment for him and also for me. I have watched the goal a million times. It was an amazing day and something I will always remember.
“Since I was a child I always wanted to score in a big game, so I loved that moment and it makes me hungry for more.”
His powerful header beyond Fraser Forster equalled his goals tally for last season – three – and he wants to become an even more valuable penalty-box ally.
Central-defensive partner Connor Goldson scored a lastgasp winner from a corner against Kilmarnock in August and another set-piece header from Katic proved decisive in the recent 2-0 win at Motherwell.
Rangers netted off two setpieces in the Scottish Cup against Stranraer – a corner and a penalty – and Katic is aware they’re likely to be important in the coming weeks as teams come to Ibrox to defend for their lives.
He said: “This season showed me what can happen when you work hard and never give up. There are times when I know I am going to have to be patient.
“But if you work hard and take your chance something like this can happen.
“I was happy to score against Celtic and maybe as a centre-half you should be scoring seven or eight times a season from set plays.
“We worked really hard on our set-pieces, both from an attacking and defending point of view – each day we put a lot into our routines.
“When teams come to Ibrox and defend then set-pieces become even more important because they provide a goalscoring opportunity.
“Sometimes a match can be decided on something like this and centre-backs should look to attack these situations.
“It’s something I have always