LEARN AND YOU’LL EARN
RANGERS manager Jo Potter believes that the ideal reaction to a first domestic defeat is lifting silverware at Tynecastle this afternoon.
The Ibrox side take on Partick Thistle as they bid to claim the season’s first trophy, the Sky Sports Cup.
Rangers go into the game on the back of a 2-1 defeat to Celtic last weekend that blew the title race wide open.
And Potter believes that loss can work in Rangers’ favour as they look to absorb the lessons ahead of the run-in.
Top of the table – they are one point better off than Celtic and Glasgow City – and with the potential for a domestic Treble, Potter insisted that this afternoon is the ideal platform to offer a reminder of what they are capable of.
“I think we need to use that,” said Potter. “We were nowhere near our levels. We potentially could have nicked a draw and it would have taken away from what we need to do better.
“We definitely didn’t feel like we deserved anything from the game. We could have taken something but we didn’t and I think this week what we have been able to do is to focus on what went wrong and the conversations we needed to have.
“This is a game we are all looking forward to. It is a fantastic opportunity now for us to bounce back.”
It will be a family affair for Potter this afternoon as the former England internationalist looks to claim the first silverware of her managerial career.
She added: “I have my mum Jill, dad Jim, sister Gemma and her husband George all up for the game.
“They have been avid fans all season. My Mum has always followed me all the way through my career so I hope I make it a worthwhile journey for them.
“It is a special occasion and it is nice for them to live it with me.
“But my advice to the players is that you don’t want it to be too emotional or it ends up draining you.”
Me a nwhi l e , Ja g s manager Brian Graham has spent the week prepping his team talk as he looks to remind his players of the fact that football games are not won on paper.
He was irked this week that Rangers were the focal point of attention in the build-up to the game with many expecting a clear procession to the Cup this afternoon.
Graham said: “It is not the Rangers final which I think a lot of people seem to have forgotten. Before a ball has been kicked I feel that I need to remind people that it is Rangers v Partick Thistle – there are two teams.
“People seem to think that Rangers are turning up to pick up the trophy but we have a belief and a confidence within this squad that we can give a very strong account of ourselves. We believe we can go and win it.
“I don’t usually write notes down but I have for this game because it is such a momentous occasion. I am usually quite off the cuff with team talks but I will be prepared for this one.
“It is about being brave, being bold. It is 11 v 11. Anything can happen – and how many times have you seen that in football?
“I want my players to look at the history of underdogs in cup finals and then I want us to go and make that story ours.”
Tickets for the final at Tynecastle are available right up until kick-off. They cost £8 for adults and £1 for kids and concessions. A family ticket for two adults and two kids is £15.