The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Win at Ibrox? McMann has the solution
Scott McMann’s last victory at Ibrox came with Premiership survival on the line. Now, the Dundee United defender hopes to repeat the feat as European football beckons.
McMann, 25, was part of the Hamilton side which claimed a stunning 1-0 triumph in Govan on March 4 2020.
That proved to be Rangers’ final home match before football was halted due to the Covid pandemic.
It also remains the last team any side outwith Celtic has beaten the Gers on their own patch in the Premiership.
“I remember that win well,” says McMann.
“It was under Chipper (Brian Rice), just before football shut down due to the pandemic in March 2020. We were second bottom of the table and beat Rangers at Ibrox. Then we beat Kilmarnock at home.
“After that, the league got scrapped – so it was those results that kept us up, really. It was the year Hearts went down and we needed those results.
“But Rangers have very rarely lost at Ibrox since then. They are a brilliant side and we know it’s going to be a difficult game.
“We just need to focus on what we’re doing at the minute. We got a good result against Motherwell and are in a brilliant position in the European hunt.
“The chance to get into Europe with United was something I thought about before coming here. It’s a massive club with a great history and that’s what drew me to the club – the size of the club and the opportunity to potentially play in Europe.”
McMann actually boasts two Ibrox triumphs on his CV, having seen off the Light Blues 2-0 back in 2017. Hamilton goals from Darren Lyons and David Templeton did the damage on that occasion.
Which begs the question: what’s the secret to winning at Ibrox?
“Our goalkeeper – on both occasions,” laughs McMann.
“For the first win, it was Luke Southwood, who is now at Reading. Gary Woods in goal for the second one. You need to ride your luck at times if you are going to get a result at Ibrox.
“I remember in one of the games they had a few good chances, hit the post and the bar.
“You need luck on your
side if you’re going to win there. Fortunately, for me it’s happened twice.
“Benji (Siegrist) was excellent at the weekend against Motherwell.
“He had a couple of brilliant saves that kept us in it. I’m sure we will need him at some point – and we know we can rely on him to make big saves.”
McMann adds: “To be fair, I’ve had a few scuddings at Ibrox as well.
“There was the game that finished 8-0 (November 2020) and that was not a great experience.
“There were a good 20 or 30 fans waiting for us back at the ground, saying some unsavoury things. But to be fair, that’s to be expected when you get beaten 8-0.
“We were going through a tough spell at that time – but it makes you
appreciate the wins even more.”
Rangers host United in the afterglow of a momentous night at Ibrox, with Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men seeing off RB Leipzig to reach the Europa League final.
With that Seville showpiece and a Scottish Cup final against Hearts on the horizon, it would be fair to say tomorrow’s visit by United – with the Premiership effectively Celtic’s – is not top of the club’s agenda.
But McMann is loath to rely upon either fatigue or a lack of focus when Tam Courts’ men head west.
“They played in Europe and then went to Motherwell and played well,” recalls McMann.
“It’s never easy going to Ibrox with the players
they’ve got and the way they’re playing.”
Meanwhile Lewis Neilson admits he had some tough moments this season waiting for chance in the United team, but the 18-year-old is allowing himself happier thoughts of looking ahead to potential European football.
The centre-back burst into the first team at the start of last season and played 20 times in his breakthrough campaign, although half of those games were on loan with Falkirk.
Neilson also played in three of United’s Premier Sports Cup group stage ties this season but has had to be patient since then, making only four league appearances before last weekend.
But the defender came in
for United’s crucial encounter with Motherwell and helped his team to a 1-0 win that puts them in a commanding position for a Europa Conference League place ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Ibrox.
Neilson has had to maintain perspective at times when not getting selected.
“Sometimes it’s tough but I enjoy coming into training every day,” he says.
“I still need to remind myself I am only 18. I’m a centre-half and centrehalves usually do come in a wee bit later.
“I just keep the head down and focus. I set myself goals so no matter what age I am I always want to be pushing on and just now that’s getting into the first team and playing more games.”