WHILE his Old Firm colleagues reflected on the consequences of another fine contest between the teams, Craig Moore, Rangers' 20-year-old defender, had to face up to the probability that he will not play again this season. The Australian full back was taken off in the first half of the game at Ibrox on Sunday, but the worse news came yesterday when it was discovered he had broken a bone in a foot.
``We are awaiting confirmation, but it looks as if he will be out for the remainder of the season,'' said manager Walter Smith. ``It is tough luck on the lad because he had been having his best spell of the season for us.''
As well as missing out on his team's final push towards their eighth successive premier division championship, Moore had his eyes on making an impact on international football when he was due to play for Australia against Scotland in the Euro '96 warm-up match in a couple of weeks time at Hampden.
``He had hoped to use that as a platform to get a regular place in the Australian international side,'' said his manager. ``He had already been a bit unlucky earlier in the season when he was out with injury, but after he came back from the recent Olympic qualifying games he has been doing well for us.''
Smith had some cheerier news to report on the progress of a trio of players who have been out through injury. Trevor Steven, Garry Bollan, and Derek McInnes all took part in a reserve game at the weekend. Bollan and McInnes also had another outing yesterday, against Kilmarnock, and seem set to be playing seriously again fairly soon.
New man Erik Bo Andersen scored his first goal for the club in the reserve match yesterday in which Rangers lost to Killie 5-3. Peter Van Vossen scored twice in the game at Bathgate, but a Mark Roberts double helped Kilmarnock to a win.
Meanwhile, the Rangers manager, looking at the state of the championship race after what had been termed ``the decider,'' admitted that the major difference between drawing and winning for his team was that their margin for error was not more comfortable.
``If we had won we would have more room for error, but considering all the hype that went before the game, the fact is that both teams are in exactly the same position as they were.''
The vital difference, of course, is that one more game has been played and the Ibrox lead, along with their goal difference advantage, remains intact.
``There is still a lot of football to be played by both teams,'' continued Smith, ``before anybody can claim anything, but we have to try to keep up the consistency we have shown all season.''
The manager indicated that he did not expect to be adding to the staff before the Scottish transfer deadline on March 29.
He will be concerned that Paul Gascoigne's booking takes him on to 11 points, just a couple of cautions short of incurring another suspension, this time for three matches.
Celtic have already had to accept the loss of their full back, Jackie McNamara, who was sent off against Rangers. The Under-21 internationalist will miss this Saturday's match with Motherwell at Fir Park but will be available again for the Tennents Scottish Cup semi-final with Rangers at Hampden on Sunday, April 7.
Similarly, Aberdeen midfield man Dean Windass, sent off against Raith Rovers on Saturday, will be free to play in his team's semi-final against Hearts on April 6 at Hampden but misses this Saturday's league match with Hibs.
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