HILL AIMS FOR OLD FIRM WIN
SAYS CLINT HILL
RANGERS defender Clint Hill believes ending Celtic’s unbeaten record on Hogmanay could spark a push to narrow the gap during 2017.
The 38-year-old insists tomorrow evening’s testing trip to face St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park is the immediate priority for the Ibrox side.
Making it five wins on the spin would be the ideal way to bolster belief ahead of the visit of their Old Firm rivals, who have recorded 5-1 and 1-0 victories in the season’s two previous derbies.
Celtic are currently 14 points clear at the top of the Premiership and haven’t lost in 22 domestic games under Brendan Rodgers.
But Hill said: ‘Listen, everything is about confidence. If we can go into that Celtic game with another win on Wednesday, then we can be confident we can give them a real game.
‘We obviously need a bit of luck on the day. But, hopefully, we can do it. When you are a Rangers player, the objective is to be close to Celtic — you want to beat them.
‘They are unbeaten as well, so that would be a lovely scalp if we could do that. But it is going to be a big game.
‘We want to close that gap on them as quickly as we can. We can’t compete financially or in terms of European football or anything like that, but hopefully we can close that gap as quickly as possible.
‘If we can give a good, solid performance then, hopefully, it will begin to turn in our favour.’
The veteran defender is eager to be involved against Saints and Celtic, which would make it three games in eight days after his Christmas Eve outing against Inverness Caley Thistle.
‘I managed to do it when we played the (League Cup) semi-final and we went Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday,’ recalled Hill.
‘I got through that, so I fancy my chances to do it again if called upon. We have got a big squad now and most people are fit. I don’t know if the gaffer has it in mind to mix it around a bit. If needed, I am up for it.’
Nineteen years on from his debut as a professional footballer, Hill is still learning new things about the game that has provided such an elongated career.
The sheer size of Rangers is one such nugget of knowledge. So, too, the specific demands exerted by Scottish football.
Then there is his day-to-day work under Mark Warburton’s management. Never before, the centre-back admits, has he encountered a squad as studious about self-improvement as his current colleagues.
Hill makes the aftermath of a match sound almost like a CIA debrief. Information is collected and reviewed. Every individual assesses their positive and negative contributions to the overall mission.
He feels this attention to detail has been essential in assembling a four-match winning streak, albeit plenty of flaws arose in the most recent success over Inverness.
Tomorrow’s trip to Perth brings a challenging opportunity to make it five-in-a-row, then comes the much-anticipated visit from Celtic.
Clearly, no shortage of brainpower will be expended on trying to formulate the best possible end to 2016. Hill, though, also feels it is essential to have some downtime amid the intensity.
Returning home provides a chance to switch off. With children’s television blaring out, he can sidestep the frenzy that descends during Old Firm derby week.
‘I don’t know if I’m a little bit different because of the age I am or the fact I haven’t been involved in that many,’ he pondered. ‘But I can take myself away from it all. I can step away from it.
‘I don’t buy the newspapers every day. I don’t look at what people are saying on Twitter. I don’t really get it every day. I just try to go into the games as calmly as possible.
‘You need to get away. You need to step away from football — as mad as it sounds. It’s a bubble — and if you are constantly looking at things on Twitter or social media it can drain you.
‘I have three kids, as well. You have no chance of watching games or any normal TV or anything, so I’m quite happy with that.’
That’s not to say that Hill doesn’t appreciate the unique intensity of the rivalry with Celtic. Far from it. The Englishman feels privileged to be experiencing life at Rangers at this stage of his career.
‘You have to enjoy every single game,’ said Hill. ‘Ten years ago, I wouldn’t have thought I would be here and the time has gone quickly. You have to enjoy every moment that you can.
‘Coming across an Old Firm derby — it doesn’t get much bigger than that. You have to try to enjoy it, but the truth is that you only really enjoy it when you win.
‘Listen, this is a massive club. To come here at my age is unbelievable and to play in front of 50,000 fans every other week is a massive achievement. I’m proud to be here.
‘I just want to do my best for the club — I don’t think you realise how big it is until you actually step into it and experience it.’
Hill claimed the man-of-the-match award — and praise from Warburton — for his performance in the win over Inverness. Even with his defensive attributes, goalkeeper Wes Foderingham was still required to produce a clutch of saves to keep the Highlanders at bay.
After confident displays against Aberdeen, Hearts and Hamilton, this was much less convincing fare from Rangers. One thing is for sure. The dip in performance level will be pored over before they return to action at McDiarmid Park.
‘I have never been at a club where there is as much scrutiny and analysis, not from the media, but as a team,’ said Hill, whose former employers include QPR, Crystal Palace and Stoke.
‘We do analyse ourselves a lot and every game we pick bits of the game we feel we can do better in and bits we are doing well.’