McLeish steps up recruitment campaign

RANGERS manager Alex McLeish vowed to step up his bid to sign Feyenoord striker Thomas Buffel and land a replacement for departed defender Jean-Alain Boumsong after Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Tannadice.

The Ibrox side were far from convincing as they needed a last-minute equaliser from substitute Hamed Namouchi to cancel out David McCracken’s opener for the Tangerines in the 11th minute.

However, the Gers looked lost at the back without Newcastle-bound defender Boumsong and missed the firepower of suspended forward, Nacho Novo.

But the transfer window has now re-opened and McLeish is hoping he can add to his squad, despite many European clubs enjoying a winter break.

He said: “I have done my homework, but whether we can get the players in we want is another matter. Buffel is more a middle to front man with an eye for goal. We could do with a bit more invention.”

But Dundee United boss Ian McCall was left angry after Rangers defender Gregory Vignal appeared to handle a Barry Robson corner in the area.

Referee Mike McCurry waved away the appeals of the Tannadice players before Namouchi went on to steal a late point. But the United manager conceded the result felt more “like a defeat” despite moving off the foot of the SPL table.

McCall said: “I have seen the incident on TV and I don’t want to be slagging anybody off but it was a definite penalty. At this part of the season, that is a vital decision, but we are down at the bottom and still scrapping for the points. It just should have been all three.

“We have moved up two places but we should have had another two points to try and start moving further up the league. Tomorrow, we will look at it as a good draw but just now it feels like a defeat which makes me feel a bit down.”

However, McLeish argued that the ‘handball’ incident was unintentional.

The Rangers boss said: “I think it did hit Vignal’s hand, but I don’t think he knew anything about it. There was a person in front of him and he probably thought he was dealing with it. He even shut his eyes so I don’t think it was deliberate.”

But McLeish was equally unhappy after Dado Prso and Shota Arveladze both hit the net only to see the ‘goals’ ruled out for offside.

He said: “Defeat was definitely staring us in the face, but I have seen the two ‘goals’ since and they were onside.”