Gers new-boy hails 'special' skipper
Rangers midfielder Kevin Thomson insists skipper Barry Ferguson showed how "special" he is with a double during a sparkling performance against Hapoel Tel Aviv in their UEFA Cup clash at Ibrox.
The Govan side, inspired by the Scotland captain, brushed aside the Israeli club 4-0 to go through to the last-16 of the tournament, on a 5-2 aggregate result, where they will play Spanish club Osasuna with the first leg at Ibrox in a fortnight.
Thomson played behind the Light Blues captain giving him free reign to go forward in support of Boyd in a tactical ploy that worked to perfection and after the game the former Hibernian player said: "The tactics worked well and it was there for everyone to see. I think Barry's performance shows that he is just as special pushing on as sitting in the middle of the park."
He added: "Gavin Rae and I sat a wee bit deeper than Barry, so we had a decent balance and it looked like we had a bit more drive in the team. Barry always wants to push on and he has always had the talent, the touches and awareness to score goals.
"It was great sitting behind him, protecting things and allowing him to push on and create goals and score goals."
Thomson admits that such a successful European debut for the Ibrox club vindicates his move from Easter Road during the transfer window. And the midfielder revealed how he shared his delight with his parents after the match.
He said: "It was a boy's dream. As I just said to my mum and dad, playing in front of 50,000 fans and getting through to the last 16 of the UEFA Cup is something special. Things at Hibs had become a bit difficult for me at the end of January but I've had new lease of life and a new career and I'm relishing it.
"I think if anyone said they weren't nervous making their European debut in front of 50,000 fans they would be liars and I was nervous. But I got a few early touches of the ball, relaxed a bit and felt as though I worked hard.
"I only had one training session in the best part of eight or nine days because of a hamstring injury but I had my hand up saying I was ready to play.
"All the boys are looking forward to the next round against Osasuna and fingers crossed that when the next game comes around it can be the same type of night."
