McMANN HOPES FOR MORE SUCCESS AT IBROX

OVER the past 26 months, there have been precious few Scottish footballers who have celebrated a Premiership victory over Rangers at Ibrox. Dundee United defender Scott McMann, however, can count himself in that elite group. In March 2020, the then Hamilton player starred as Brian Rice’s Accies shocked Steven Gerrard’s side 1-0 in Govan courtesy of a second-half goal from David Moyo. The result was doubly significant as it holed Rangers’ title bid below the waterline while providing a life-raft for the Lanarkshire side’s top-flight survival at the expense of Hearts. Celtic’s 2-1 win at Ibrox last month is the only other time Rangers have lost at home in the league since that humiliating loss to Hamilton. For McMann (pictured), it was his second Ibrox victory after playing in Accies’ first league win at the venue since 1926 when goals from David Templeton and Darren Lyon secured an unlikely 2-0 triumph in November 2017. Now starring with Dundee United, the left-back is hoping to make it a treble tomorrow with the Tannadice side. ‘It’s hard to win at Ibrox but I’ve done it twice,’ said the 25-year-old. ‘The last time was just before football shut down due to the pandemic in March 2020. ‘We were second bottom of the table at the start of the week and we beat Rangers at Ibrox and then beat Kilmarnock at home on the Saturday. Then the league got scrapped — so those results kept us up. It was the year when Hearts went down and we finished second bottom. But Rangers have rarely lost at Ibrox since and they are a brilliant side, so we know it’s going to be a difficult game.’

For McMann, however, not all memories of playing at Ibrox are pleasant. Eight months after Hamilton’s season-saving win in Glasgow, Rangers got their revenge by filleting Rice’s side 8-0. A hot reception lay in store from angry Accies fans when the team returned to New Douglas Park. ‘I’ve had a few scuddings at Ibrox as well,’ said McMann. ‘The game that finished 8-0 was not a great experience. But it happens to a lot of teams at Ibrox. When Rangers are playing really well there’s not a lot you can do. ‘After that game, there were 20 or 30 fans waiting for us back at the ground, saying some unsavoury things to us. But to be fair, that’s to be expected when you lose 8-0. ‘We were going through a tough spell at that time but it makes you appreciate the wins even more.’ When McMann swapped Hamilton for Dundee United last August, the allure of European football was a big draw. With fifth-placed Ross County hosting sixth-placed Motherwell today, something has to give. That means three points would secure Europa Conference League football for Tam Courts’ side next season. ‘The chance to get into Europe with United was something I thought about,’ said McMann, whose side are fourth, three points ahead of County and four above the Steelmen. ‘This is a massive club with a great history and that’s what drew me to United amongst other things. ‘There is still a bit to go but we are in a good position after winning 1-0 against Motherwell last Saturday. ‘We have three very difficult games coming up against Rangers, Celtic and Ross County. But we are looking to take some points from those matches and secure European football.’