IDOL THREAT
ANTHONY HAGGERTY
STEVE DAVIES grew up idolising Rangers boss Steven Gerrard on Merseyside.
But that doesn’t stop the diehard Liverpool fan from wanting to paint Ibrox red and white this weekend.
The Hamilton Accies striker is just glad Gerrard won’t be featuring as Brian Rice takes the Lanarkshire outfit to Govan on Premiership duty.
Davies said: “I grew up a total Red. Gerrard was an unbelievable footballer but he’s now a manager and can’t come out on the pitch and affect things on Sunday.
“It is 11 v 11 and just because it is Rangers doesn’t mean we will do anything differently as it is just another game.
“We will be looking to get something from the match.
“As a footballer you still only get three points whether we beat Rangers or Livingston.
“We’ll do our bit and we’ll study them and we will know their strengths and weaknesses and we will give our very best.”
The former Derby and Bristol City hitman insists the chance to a.haggerty@dailyrecord.co.uk grace the likes of Parkhead and Ibrox was a major selling point in tempting him north of the border.
The 31 year-old said: “I played down south my whole career and one of the reasons I came to Scotland and moved away from my family was to play against Celtic and Rangers.
“I wanted to see what these clubs were all about. I’m excited about the game and I’ll only enjoy it if get something from the game.
“I played at Celtic last season and I have been to Rangers as a spectator to watch a few games but haven’t played at Ibrox.
“I love football and it is a big stadium in Scotlandbut it is the same size as a ground as some of the clubs that I
have played at in England. It is not a big issue. We are a young team and a lot of lads will be playing there for the first time.
“There is no better place than Ibrox to showcase what you are all about.”
One face in the Light Blues line-up that will be familiar to Davies is namesake Steve Davis.
The hitman believes the Northern Irish midfielder is just one of a number of outstanding talents Gerrard has at his disposal.
He said: “I played against Steven a few times down south.
“The whole Rangers team is full of quality. They are a top team and there are not many players in the side you wouldn’t fancy as a manager.”
Meanwhile, Accies go into this contest with a spring in their step after beating Livi 2-1 last weekend.
Davies reckons Rice’s men get a bad rap for not bringing much to the top flight but he insists that Hamilton, like Rangers and Celtic, have every right to be where they are and have proved their worth after spending six consecutive seasons in the Premiership.
He said: “People have this perception about Hamilton and that we are such a small club and that we don’t deserve to be in the Premiership.
“Is it coincidence we have been here for six years on the spin? We deserve to be here as much as Celtic and Rangers do.
“When the gaffer came in he wanted to impose his own style. Rangers have a big stadium – so what?
“Whoever wants it more will win this game.
“We know we won’t have the ball for the majority of this game but we will be hard to beat. We know our strengths and we are starting to stick to them which is why we are picking up points.
“It’s also why other teams are looking at us and giving us respect.
“We did not stay in the league last season by fluke, we did it because we amassed enough points to stay where we are.
“It is going to be a tough game but at no point do we feel inferior to Rangers.”