Andy Is Tuned In For Our Game

Jan 6 2008

St Mirren V Rangers Tuesday, Kick-Off 7.45pm Live On Setanta

ST MIRREN new boy Andy Dorman might have spent the last four seasons in America but he knows all about the SPL after watching Scottish football on telly.

The 25-year-old penned an 18-month deal last week and could make his Buddies bow when Rangers visit Love Street on Tuesday night.

The English-born midfielder was based in Boston for eight years before switching to the SPL.

He spent four years at the city's university then joined up with Stevie Nicol's New England Revolution in the MLS.

But Dorman is no stranger to Scottish football thanks to satellite TV and has already pitted his wits against one half of the Old Firm this year.

So he had no hesitation in swapping the star spangled banner for a Saltire.

He said: "We got Setanta in the States and I used to watch Scottish football on that. So I know a bit about the league.

"Rangers now have DaMarcus Beasley and I played against him in America before he went to PSV.

"Celtic also came over during their pre-season. It was great to play them and we drew 1-1."

Dorman grew up a Liverpool supporter in North Wales and has always dreamed of running out to the Anfield favourite You'll Never Walk Alone.

So the former Welsh schoolboy international can't wait to take to the field at Parkhead and hear the Hoops faithful belting it out.

He said: "I'm looking forward to getting the chance to play at Ibrox and Parkhead.

"I'm a Liverpool fan so I can't wait to go to Parkhead because of the You'll Never Walk Alone connection.

"But my first target is just to get myself fit as I haven't played for a while. I'd love to be involved against Rangers but I'm not setting any goals."

Buddies boss Gus MacPherson reckons the visit of Walter Smith's men can help his troops banish the blues that descended over Love Street in 2007.

St Mirren managed just two home wins in 12 months and scored only seven times - a record MacPherson admits simply isn't good enough.

But he reckons a victory against Gers can help ensure there's no repeat in 2008.

Gus said: "We know how tough a game it's going to be.

"Matches are coming thick and fast but these are the games the players want to be playing in.

"It's the chance to pit your wits against some of Scotland's best.

"We've seemed to do better away from home against the Old Firm and we know our home record has not been good enough.

"But this is a chance to make amends for that. We have three home games coming up against Rangers, Dumbarton and Motherwell and the challenge is there to do much better.

"If we could sort out the home thing we'd probably be two or three places up the table."

The Buddies put a dent in Celtic's title defence last month when Stephen McGinn's scored in a 1-1 draw at Parkhead.

And a Richard Brittain strike earned St Mirren a point at Ibrox in the final days of Paul Le Guen's troubled reign last season.

MacPherson believes those results have given his troops the belief to take on the big guns and plans to stun Rangers again.

He added: "You have to take confidence from results like that and it shows we're capable of competing at this level.

"We've earned the right to play against Rangers and Celtic - as have Gretna this season. On Tuesday we will believe in what we're doing."