Miller wants more Old Firm joy but with a final flourish this time
KENNY MILLER wants to look back fondly on last season’s Scottish Cup defeat of Celtic but, ultimately, the memories are laced with the bitter taste of hurt and regret. As a stand-alone achievement, Rangers’ victory in the semi-final was one to savour. A full division separated the clubs after all and few gave the team from Ibrox a prayer as they turned up at Hampden to take on a Celtic side on the cusp of securing a fifth successive title.
In an affront to the predicted narrative, Rangers dominated possession, Miller opened the scoring and, after the tension of a penalty shoot-out, the underdogs prevailed.
It is what happened thereafter that continues to haunt the veteran striker. With automatic promotion to the top flight already assured, Miller insists there was no conscious decision to down tools. The facts, however, speak for themselves. Mark Warburton’s men bombed after their derby triumph, failing to win another match for the remainder of the season.
The malaise culminated in Rangers throwing away a 2-1 lead over Hibernian in the final, losing two late headers to relinquish what would have been the first major trophy since the club’s financial meltdown in 2012.
‘I wouldn’t have said we took our eye off the ball at all but our results and performance would suggest otherwise,’ says Miller. ‘It still hurts. It’s still right there in the memory, so it’s important we put that right.’
For so many reasons, the final became a day to forget for Rangers, not least on account of the post-match events that saw a jubilant Hibs pitch invasion turn into something altogether nastier as supporters of both clubs traded blows on the pitch.
The violence prevented the Hibs players from conducting a lap of honour and the Rangers team coach left the national stadium without the manager uttering a word to the media in reaction to the match.
Warburton never did discuss how his team had capitulated so meekly and he was not alone in stonewalling the subject — as of last night the results page on the club’s official website had still not been updated to show the 3-2 scoreline.
With Celtic again lying in wait today the issue has been thrown into sharp focus and, as Miller spoke, just about every mention of last year’s semi was followed by a ‘but’…
As the clock ticks on the 37-yearold’s time at Rangers — he is out of contract in the summer and new manager Pedro Caixinha has shown no inclination to offer an extension — Miller would hate to bow out fostering more feelings of what might have been.
‘It does hurt,’ he admits. ‘I think anybody involved in that game last year would say the same thing.
‘That semi-final had been built up so much. We had been written off and you could see how much it meant to the lads after that last penalty went over the bar.
‘It was a big day for us but unfortunately we never followed it up. As much as I think we didn’t perform in the final, we should really have seen it out.
‘It was really disappointing, an opportunity to put another medal in the cabinet and we didn’t take it.’
Ten times an Old Firm goalscorer, Miller gave Rangers the lead in last year’s semi, pouncing on a deflection off Celtic captain Scott Brown to fire past Craig Gordon.
A headed equaliser from Erik Sviatchenko took the game to extra-time before Barrie McKay and Tom Rogic traded goals en route to the shoot-out where Rogic was the fall guy, blasting his kick high and sparking jubilation among Miller and his team-mates.
So, at that moment, did Rangers start to believe the cup was already won?
‘Listen, not for me,’ responds Miller. ‘I knew that there was a lot still to go. But what it meant, beating them... although it went to penalties, I think we were the better team and I don’t think many people would argue with that.
‘It was a really significant result for this group of players moving forward.’
The evidence this season would seem inconclusive on that front. On course for a top-three finish, Rangers have probably shot a par score for their return to the Premiership. Some would argue they have under-achieved, given their financial advantage over secondplaced Aberdeen. Indeed, the consequences of the semi-final result have been of greater benefit to Celtic, whose board saw the need to announce the departure of boss Ronny Deila within days. The financial investment in securing Brendan Rodgers has represented a significant upgrade at Parkhead.
Warburton fared less well against the former Liverpool boss, losing all three derbies and falling 24 points behind in the league before departing in February.
Caretaker Graeme Murty got more out of the team in the 1-1 draw at Parkhead last month, Clint Hill striking late to secure a point from a match watched by Caixinha from the stands. ‘A lot was made of us over- celebrating but we’d scored a late goal to get a point in an Old Firm game,’ says Miller. ‘The celebrations were for our fans, who have had a hard time this season.
‘It was a positive result for us but we weren’t popping champagne corks in the dressing-room because we got a draw at Celtic.’
After a wobbly start, Caixinha’s Rangers have shown improvement over the last few games, chalking up three consecutive clean sheets and claiming the most impressive result of the season with a 3-0 win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
Miller was the star turn that day, producing two expert finishes past Dons keeper Joe Lewis and he feels confident that, placed in a similar position against Craig Gordon this afternoon, he will be able to take advantage.
Earlier in his career, Miller seemed hurried and panicked when given time to size up his options and angles. At 37, he admits to being much calmer with the ball at his feet.
‘As I’ve got a bit older, I’ve definitely become more composed in front of goal,’ he says. ‘When you’re younger, you recognise the significance of goals, how they change games and you are maybe a bit more rash. So that’s certainly something that has improved with age.
‘As long as I put myself in the right position, I’m more than confident that I’ll take more than I miss.’
Although Caixinha insists no decision has been made on whether to offer Miller a new deal, the signs do not look especially promising.
Whether the Portuguese feels he could strengthen a couple of positions by cutting loose one of the club’s higher earners or simply does not fancy the experienced frontman, he has given no encouragement to a player who has openly expressed his desire to stay.
If his third spell at the club is to
‘IT WAS A HUGE DAY FOR US BUT WE FAILED TO FOLLOW IT UP. IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT ANOTHER MEDAL IN THE CABINET AND WE DIDN’T TAKE IT’
come to an end, he still intends to be playing at a high level. ‘I wouldn’t be wanting to stay here if I didn’t think I could play in the top flight,’ he says. ‘I’m where I want to be and there is absolutely no doubt in my mind I’ll be playing at a very good level next year.’ As for today’s challenge against a Celtic side looking to maintain their unbeaten domestic record for the season and thereby inch to within a single game of the Treble, Miller said: ‘It’s not about us stopping Celtic — it’s about Rangers getting to a final. ‘We want to win a cup. The bonus, preventing Celtic doing a Treble, comes along with it.’