Gers faithful show true blue respect for Tommy

May 18 2008 Rob Fairburn

TO a man they stood and applauded the life of a legend who in football terms they regarded as one of their enemies.

In a week when the reputation of Rangers fans took a battering, common decency and respect prevailed at the passing of a respected opponent.

Supporters in both away stands at Fir Park yesterday stood and clapped wholeheartedly in the one-minute applause for Celtic's Tommy Burns who died on Thursday.

There had been fears the tribute would not have been respected by an element of the Rangers support.

Especially after a hardcore element had turned Manchester city centre into a battleground last week.

But the concern was totally unfounded.

You even got the impression that a one-minute's silence would have been just as impeccably observed.

It was an emotional moment as the Fir Park crowd joined the players in the applause with the strains of Burns' favourite karaoke song Mack the Knife in the background - a request made by Well gaffer MarkMcGhee as his tribute to his old team-mate.

Of course, given Burns' service to club and country it would have been a disgrace if any fans had acted any differently.

However, after Wednesday night's dreadful aftermath to the UEFA Cup Final it felt refreshing to be positive.

The ticket distribution for yesterday's match would, of course, have given the club a good idea who was among their 5,000 travelling support - but they did not let the club down.

However, gaps in the Davie Cooper stand and the number of people sporting Rangers colours trying to flog spare tickets in the build-up to kick off suggested the mass hysteria pre - Manchester had waned.

Despite the fact the destiny of the SPL title was at stake.

It was all going to plan for Gers when Christian Dailly headed them into a 28th-minute lead after Well keeper Graeme Smith was caught in no-man's land.

But shortly after the interval the former Ibrox stopper pulled off a crucial save as Daniel Cousin was sent clean through the Motherwell defence.

Well were back on level terms in 49 minutes when Chris Porter steered the ball home from close range after David Clarkson's header had battered the post.

Rangers simply could not step up a gear as the home side were galvanised and looked the more likely to score a winner.

It turned into a celebratory day for the Well players as they took a well-deserved bow in front of their fans at the end.

A huge No.10 Phil O'Donnell strip was carried round the pitch in memory of the skipper who died in the season his side qualified for Europe.

But the draw tipped the scales in favour of Celtic in the championship race because of their superior goal difference.

Gers fans were subdued after Well's equaliser, aware they no longer had flag success in their own hands.

They could lose out to Celtic even if they chalk up victories against St Mirren and Aberdeen - unless they score a hatload into the bargain.

Walter Smith's side will hope Dundee United can take something from Celtic on Thursday.

There was no hiding the disappointment among the travelling support.

It rounded off a bad week for Rangers on and off the park.