I'll wreck title dream; SAYS EOIN JESS

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Apr 19, 1998 | by EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW ARTHUR GILL

EOIN Jess is out to wreck Gers' title hopes and guarantee Aberdeen's survival at Pittodrie today.

The Scotland striker remembers the days when Aberdeen dominated games between the pair - but those are long gone.

It's now three years and 11 matches since the Dons beat their bitter rivals and Jess believes it is the ideal occasion to end that dismal sequence.

He said: "Rangers have had the upper hand in these games for too long.

"We need the points every bit as much as they do. To be honest we owe it to our fans after getting dragged back into the relegation zone in the last few weeks and we are running out of games.

"Like me most of them can remember the days when we used to beat Rangers regularly in the League - but it is a long time since we did that.

"It's simply not good enough and they gave us a real going over at Ibrox the last time but we drew the two previous games and hope to go one better.

"It won't be easy though. Rangers were written off a few weeks ago but they're chasing the double now after bouncing back in style.

"Over the whole season this is probably as badly as Rangers have played in quite a few years but they keep grinding out the results.

"That is the mark of true champions but we are fighting for our lives and while Celtic and Hearts will be hoping we win we are only interested in our own situation.

"I think most people outside Ibrox would like to see someone else win the title for a change but the most important thing for me is keeping Aberdeen up."

Aberdeen's last League win against Rangers came during their successful attempt to beat the drop under Roy Aitken in '95. That time it took a play-off win against Dunfermline to keep the Dons in the top flight.

The new Super League has scrapped that option this time with only automatic relegation for the bottom club still a threat.

And Jess, who is a certainty to start against Finland in Wednesday's World Cup warm-up match,is astounded to be in such difficulties again so soon.

He added: "I can't believe that we are in relegation trouble again as I thought those problems were over for good when we beat the drop three years ago.

"The only positive thing we can take from that is that we have been through this situation before.

"At least we know what's needed to get out of it this time around.

"What we are looking for is the same spirit that kept us up a few years ago even though it took a play-off to do it.

"We got on a run of wins back then which boosted the confidence and that is what is needed again now with matches running out fast.

"We are fighting for our lives down at the bottom but at least we can still decide our own fate and are not looking for favours from elsewhere.

"But it's amazing how quickly things can turn around as it was only a few months after avoiding relegation that we went on to lift the Coca- Cola Cup.

"I don't doubt for a minute that we have the quality of player at Pittodrie that can reproduce that sort of success but the time for talking is over.

"Now we must show what we are capable of to make sure we are not relegated as a team like Aberdeen simply can't afford to let that happen."