Miller’s gripe with standard of service

KENNY MILLER has launched a staunch defence of Rangers’ shot-shy strikers, claiming a chronic lack of service is the reason why he, Jon Daly, Kris Boyd and Nicky Clark have failed to score regularly this season.

Miller has found the net just six times since cutting short a stint in the MLS with Vancouver Whitecaps last summer but grabbed a crucial goal to clinch victory over Hibs last weekend, a result which brought Rangers firmly back into contention for a second-place finish in the Championship.

Yesterday’s 4-1 home win against Cowdenbeath underlined the improvements being made by new manager Stuart McCall but, although Miller concedes that no player at Ibrox can claim pass marks for his performances this season, he is adamant that it is no coincidence each of the club’s forwards should find barren form at the same time.

While Boyd has been highly selfcritical of his own return of just three league goals this season — a woeful total given the 20 he struck for Kilmarnock in a higher division last term — Miller does not believe his former Scotland partner should be too hard on himself.

‘I don’t think Kris is doubting himself about whether he’s doing the right things,’ said Miller. ‘I’ve worked with Kris long enough and I don’t see any change in the way he is working at all.

‘I don’t feel we have performed well individually but not one of us could have stood out with the way we have played this season — and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that none of the strikers have scored the required amount of goals.

‘Nicky Clark came here off the back of scoring more than 40 with Queen of the South and Jon Daly scored regularly in the SPL for Dundee United. Kris’ record speaks for itself and I’ve always scored goals wherever I’ve been.

‘You can always look at yourself and do more but when you have four lads in the same boat, who have scored goals all their career, you have to strip it back and have a look at why it hasn’t happened.

‘I’m not using lack of ammunition as a cop out but it goes without saying. If Kris Boyd or Kenny Miller are not getting chances, then they are not going to score goals. It’s the same for Nicky Clark and Jon Daly. It’s as simple as that.’

Last Sunday’s win at Easter Road was a significant shot in the arm for Rangers’ hopes of progressing through the play-offs, not least because they will probably have to beat Alan Stubbs’ side over two legs if they are to gain promotion.

‘There’s no guarantee that we’ll go up but Easter Road was the best we’ve played in a long time and certainly our best result in any big game this season,’ continued the former Scotland striker.

‘Stuart McCall set his plan out really clearly for everyone in that starting XI. Firstly, it was about stopping Hibs playing because they are a good team. We lost 3-1 and 4-0 to them earlier this season and they really battered us.

‘It could have been any score in those two games, although I do think we played pretty well in the 2-0 defeat at Ibrox. A couple of breaks just went against us.

‘The instructions last weekend were clear. If we could stop them and limit them, we knew we could put our own stamp on the game.

‘The players followed the manager’s instructions to the letter and that gave us a platform to build on. We won and I take heart from the result and performance.’

Miller is out of contract at the end of the season but, at 35, remains determined to be part of a Rangers team back playing in the top flight.

‘I want to stay here — there’s nowhere else I want to go,’ he said. ‘I didn’t come back here just to have one year in the Championship.

‘I came back with a long-term plan to get promoted and get us back to the top end of Scottish football.’