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Rangers midfielder Jamie Ness has backed new signing El-Hadji Diouf to be a strong force for the Ibrox side and hopes the forward can have big part to play in the Old Firm derby on Sunday.

Diouf, who joined on loan from Blackburn on the transfer deadline day, made his debut for Rangers when he was brought on from the bench after 20 minutes in Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Hearts.

Ness admitted he was impressed by the Senegalese’s performance and expects big things from his new team mate.

"It was difficult for him as I don't think he expected to come on so early," said the 19-year-old.

"But he showed some good touches and I think he will only get better and be a really good player for us."

Diouf, who was widely criticised for spitting at a Celtic fan in 2003, could feature in the fifth round match against the Hoops and Ness believes he has the potential to have a huge impact on the match.

He added: “[Diouf's] obviously got the quality so, if he's playing, hopefully he will be able to do something for us."

Ness is looking to secure a foothold in Walter Smith’s side himself after making his starting debut in the New Year Old Firm game. He hopes his recent performance have done enough to feature in Smith’s plans.

"Hopefully I'll be involved. I always want to play and hopefully the gaffer will think I've done enough to merit a place,” he said.

"I've trained with the first team boys regularly for almost two years so I know everyone really well and I know everyone's game well and I think that has helped me a lot."

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Labels: Celtic, clash, Diouf, hopes, Rangersapos, shine, stvtv

Neil Lennon has said he plays down the importance of matches against Rangers as he prepares his players for Sunday’s Old Firm game. The Celtic manager said he just wants to keep a run of positive results going, regardless of opposition.

The Glasgow rivals meet in the SPL this weekend to play the fourth of seven matches between the sides this season. The match at Parkhead could play a major part in deciding the title race but Lennon has said that it counts the same as any other.

"(Nerves) have not been evident so far and we try to play down the fact it's an Old Firm game,” Lennon told Celtic’s official website.

"We don't really mention the opposition until the day before the game. We just try to keep it as normal as possible.

"We do that because it's just another league game, the outcome is three points. It's important we keep the run going no matter who we are playing and it just happens to be Rangers this weekend."

Celtic’s performance at Ibrox in the 2-2 draw earlier this month has many tipping the side to win this weekend but Lennon warned that the outcome of an Old Firm game can’t be predicted on previous results.

"Every Old Firm game is different," he said. "Regardless of what happened at Ibrox, this will be a different game.

"We will take the positives from it but not be kidded on about it.

"They are a good team, they are the champions. They are very difficult to beat and have a good mentality about them as well."

Labels: about, Lennon, Rangers, stvtv, talking, Weaposre

Celtic manager Neil Lennon praised his side’s performance at Ibrox after their 2-2 draw with Rangers. The Hoops came from behind twice and had to deal with the dismissal of goalkeeper Fraser Foster.

In an action packed game, Rangers went ahead after just three minutes when Jamie Ness rifled in a shot from outside the box but Celtic bounced back with a Kris Commons equaliser. Foster then saw red for fouling Steven Naismith in the box and Steven Whittaker restored Rangers lead from the spot.

Celtic were a man down when Scott Brown scored in the 64th minute but Naismith was sent off in the 75th minute to level the numbers. Lennon’s side had the upper hand in the latter stages but, despite not finding a winner, the manager was delighted with his side’s efforts.

"I thought we were absolutely brilliant," said Lennon. "Every one of the players. We had to overcome a few setbacks but played with no fear and played the way we wanted them to play.

“They set their stall out in the second half and played wonderfully well. They showed a lot of character and belief, scored two goals and created lots of chances.

"We knew at half-time that Rangers would sit it in and try to counter-attack and that would be our only danger. At half-time I said to them that there was no point in playing well and losing and that people don't remember the losers in Old Firm games.

"We controlled the game even when they had the penalty we were the dominant side and to come here and control the game is very pleasing.

"The amount of chances we created and some of the football we played was top class."

The result sets up a replay at Parkhead and guarantees seven Old Firm games this season. Asked how he felt about another Glasgow derby, Lennon said: “Absolute torture!

"I think some times it can be over-egged a bit but it's just the way the fixtures have been brought on. These are the fixtures you want to play in if you are involved in the Old Firm. These are the games that define you.

"And I will take a helluva lot of pleasure by the way my team played. I am very proud of them.

"They were brave on the ball, brave in the tackle, worked tremendously hard and when were down to 10 men we were the better team."

Labels: Celticaposs, character, impressed, Lennon, stvtv

Scotland could hardly have been presented with a tougher start to their 2011 Six Nations Championship campaign than travelling to Paris for a meeting with the French. Yet there have been enough demonstrations in the past of the Scots rising to the challenge, when confronted with the might of Les Bleus and here we highlight five famous victories, both at Murrayfield and on Gallic soil.

1986: Scotland 18-17 France

The hosts handed debuts to six players, including the now-legendary figures of Gavin and Scott Hastings, Finlay Calder and David Sole and, oblivious to the visitors scoring an early touchdown through their redoubtable scrum-half, Pierre Berbizier, Gavin Hastings recovered from a torrid baptism to kick six penalties and ensure that his side repelled the challenge of powerful opponents, for whom Philippe Sella also secured a touchdown.

"It was a memorable experience and the crowd helped us in the closing stages," recalls Gavin, who enjoyed a number of successes against France.

1990: Scotland 21-0 France

This was the second of the Scots' four triumphs, en route to the Grand Slam, but they struggled to reach these exalted standards during a tepid first half and led just 3-0 at the interval, courtesy of a Hastings penalty.

However, with the French flanker, Alain Carminati, being sent off early in the second period, the hosts capitalised on their numerical advantage and gradually, inexorably, turned the screw as their rivals tired.

Finlay Calder seized a try - emulating the feat of his brother, Jim, who crossed against France during the 1984 Grand Slam success - as the prelude to Craig Chalmers slotting the conversion and doing likewise when Iwan Tukalo applied the coup de grace with the game's second touchdown.

The Scots eventually finished as comfortable winners and subsequently beat Ireland in Dublin and England in Edinburgh to gain their hallowed prize.

1995: France 21-23 Scotland

The Scots hadn't won in Paris for 26 years and seemed to be slipping to yet another close-fought defeat as the clock ticked down towards the denouement. But suddenly, almost out of nowhere, Gregor Townsend produced his now-famous "Toony Flip", caught the French entirely off their guard, and unleashed Gavin Hastings for a clear run to the line as the sprinkling of Scots inside the Parc des Princes screamed themselves hoarse.

Hastings' try only levelled the scores and the Watsonians full-back had to compose himself to kick the conversion. But when he did, it sparked a marvellous evening of celebrations and Gavin joked later that he was just glad there were finally colour pictures of Scotland succeeding in Paris.

1999: France 22-36 Scotland

This was one of the most glorious afternoons in the history of Scottish rugby: an occasion when the visitors ran in tries from all areas of the Stade de France with such joie de vivre that even the home support could scarce forbear to cheer.

They shrugged off the concession of a first-minute touchdown for Thomas Castaignede and subsequently ripped through their opponents to score five tries in a mesmerising opening half. Martin Leslie notched two of these, as did the tough-as-teak Scotland centre, Alan Tait, and Gregor Townsend also dazzled on a glorious spring day in Paris.

It was 33-22 at the interval and although the match quietened down thereafter, Kenny Logan added a penalty to ensure there would be no recovery from the hosts. "We wanted to play a wide game, the sort of game they used to such good effect against us at Murrayfield last year," said the winning captain, Gary Armstrong. "It worked and we cut through them like a knife through butter." And, with Wales beating England 24 hours later, the Scots won the last-ever Five Nations title.

2006: Scotland 20-16 France

In advance, the visitors to Murrayfield had been red-hot favourites to lift the Six Nations, but France were brought crashing back to earth through a combination of Scottish flair and brawny panache and their own mistakes.

At one stage, the home side, bolstered by two fine tries from their winger, Sean Lamont, led by 20-3, with the likes of Dan Parks and Mike Blair providing sterling contributions. The Scotland supporters were left biting their nails towards the end, with Julien Bonnaire and Sebastien Bruno both scoring tries to reduce the deficit, as their pack's pressure finally reaped dividends.

However, Frank Hadden's men retained their composure to gain their first win over the French in Edinburgh for a decade and the coach later chastised: "those who are still mud-slinging at Dan Parks" and told them to “have a look at themselves.”

Labels: France, rugby, Scottish, stvtv