Ian McCall: We'd Be Up Against It If Gers Put Out Their 3rd Team

Mar 16 2008 By Gordon Waddell

Rangers V Partick Thistle Wednesday, Kick-Off 7.45pm Scottish Cup Sixth Round

IAN McCALL knows Rangers will have a list of priorities this week - and he knows his Partick Thistle team will be at the bottom of it.

He still doesn't fancy their chances though because he reckons even Gers' third team would be good enough to finish halfway up the SPL and do their job in the Scottish Cup.

The Jags gaffer will take his side to Ibrox on Wednesday determined to pull off one of the shocks of the season and knock the wheels off his old club's bid for a domestic treble.

But despite Walter Smith throwing his lot into the UEFA Cup on Thursday and again today in the CIS Cup Final as he looks to lift their first silverware in three years, McCall won't be lulled into thinking they could catch the SPL leaders at a low ebb.

He said: "I saw Rangers last week but I agree with Craig Levein's assessment of spying on either side of the Old Firm - it's pointless.

"They could be completely different when we play them.

"In their list of priorities over the past week - Werder Bremen, a Cup Final and us - I know where I'd play my strongest team if I was Walter.

"But that doesn't make it any easier. Even their third strongest team would still finish in the middle of the SPL.

"But we're not scared to go there. We want to try to do something. I've won at Ibrox as a player but never as a manager so I don't know the secret.

"All you can do is play well and try to get something from the game. And if it's not a result then it may be just experience for the young players or a big cheque."

Jags have been going through a major rebuilding programme this season and McCall insists they're ahead of the schedule he and his board set for a return to the big time.

He also reckons the experience this one game will give his kids is worth as much as quarter of a season's slog in the First Division.

Ian said: "Having played for and against Rangers you have to guard against losing the game in the tunnel, seeing the blue jerseys. So this is an opportunity to learn a lot about our players.

"We have some experienced guys who won't be fazed. The likes of Alan Archibald and David Rowson have played there loads. But we also have around a dozen players under 24 and this should be great for them.

"Our three to five year plan is to be back there playing at these places week in week out in the SPL and we're well ahead of where I expected us to be.

"We've lost only four in 24 but we've had lots of draws."

One thing McCall won't want a repeat of is his last Cup experience against Rangers - a 7-1 CIS semi doing three years ago that went a long way to costing him his job at Dundee United.

Ian said: "We've all got stories about getting sacked. Bottom line is I deserved it.

"We were 2-0 down in a Cup semi and I changed the formation because there was no point in not doing it. We hit the inside of the post twice, had a stonewall penalty denied, got back to 2-1 then it ended up a rout.

"But I make no apologies. We were trying to reach a final. Losing 2-1 or 7-1 doesn't matter.

"It only matters to me because ultimately it cost me my job.

"It's a long time ago though and all that matters is the game in front of us.

"It's a terrific opportunity for all the lower league clubs to be at this stage in the Cup."