On This Day: League Cup 1993 WRITTEN BY DAVID MELVIN IT was one of his most memorable goals but Ally McCoist’s famous overhead kick against Hibs 20 years ago came at the end of a day which he started in a less than happy mood. He was left out of the starting XI for the League Cup final at Hampden by Walter Smith, with the Rangers boss favouring Ian Durrant over a returning McCoist. The legendary Gers striker was still recovering from a leg break but being left on the bench wasn’t in his plans and even his replacement being a good pal did little to soften the blow. McCoist recalls: I remember my face was tripping me because the gaffer didnt pick me and I wasnt starting. “Wee Durrant started and then I found out after the game that he knew in advance and never told me! The gaffer had told Durranty he was starting and Walter still gives me stick about my face tripping me that day.” It’s a memory Durrant shares. The midfielder had opened the scoring at Hampden but saw the headlines grabbed by his old pal when he climbed from the bench. Durrant remembers: He wasnt talking to me before the game. “The manager had made a decision to play me up front because Ally was coming back to fitness after the broken leg. I was fortunate enough to score the first goal and then Hibs equalised through an own goal by Dave McPherson. There was a wee pocket of the game for ten minutes where Hibs had a lot of pressure and then Walter went and played his trump card. You had a sense of what was coming when he came on and the celebrations after it showed how much it meant to him. It had been a hard time for him. Im sure looking back he wouldnt swap it but at the time he did take the hump at me playing in front of him. Thats what the manager decided and although Ally might not have been match fit you knew he had the capacity to come on and do something and by god he did with a great overhead kick.” McCoist agrees with that assessment, admitting it’s a memory he now cherishes. He added: I just remember turning around and seeing the ball disappearing past Jim Leighton. “It was truly wonderful to come back from the broken leg an help the team to a trophy. It was more than anyone could have wished for. rangers.co.uk/news/on-this-day/item/5348-on-this-day-league-cup-1993 watp....shiz
Posted on: Fri, 25 Oct 2013 13:53:58 +0000
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