Rangers' coach criticises players

The postponement of tonight's Old Firm match denies a first opportunity to compare Celtic and Rangers' prospects in the light of their midsummer changes. But there was an unusual significance to be found in the reserve match between the Glasgow giants at Ibrox.

The second string are known to fans as `the ham-and-egg team', but Rangers smacked more of caviar and champagne as they fielded a side containing six internationals who had cost £9 million sterling. Celtic, on the other hand, comprised players who are all part of the youth scheme, with the oldest of them just 19.

Before a crowd of 33,800 - the fourth largest in Britain - they managed a deserved 1-1 draw, despite having two players sent off. Gerard Lyttle and John Convery, victims of the rash enthusiasm of youth, were each yellow-carded twice.

This was after conceding a goal to the Australian Tony Vidmar in only eight minutes. John Paul McBride's penalty equaliser earned the Parkhead side a deserved draw and may have caused a rethink of the policy of spending wild amounts on supposedly ready-made stars.

There is concern in various quarters - including the Scottish Football Association and the Scottish Professional Footballers' Association - that the number of foreigners entering the game will have an adverse effect on the big clubs' youth policies.

But failure, especially in Europe but even on occasions such as this reserve match, seems more likely than anything else to trigger a renaissance of home-grown players. The Rangers coach, John McGregor, made a comment afterwards which should be heeded among the hierarchy of the leading clubs.

"The young Celtic players," said McGregor, "absolutely deserved their draw because they worked hard. Some of our players don't know the meaning of hard work."

In Rangers' recent outings against IFK Gothenburg, the danger of importing was also in evidence. Some of the players Walter Smith bought expensively clearly have talent, but they seem not to care. It is a flaw not to be found in the locals.

Tonight's postponement will leave the Old Firm in unaccustomed positions down the Premier Division behind Hibernian, who retained the leadership on goal difference despite losing the Edinburgh derby to a goal from the Hearts winger Neil McCann. Dunfermline remain an improbable second after drawing 2-2 at home to St Johnstone, while Aberdeen and Dundee United made no progress as a result of their 1-1 draw at Pittodrie.