O'Neill rubbishes Souey claims

Last updated : 28 October 2002 By
Rovers travel north of the border this Thursday in what has been dubbed the ‘Battle of Britain’.

Heck, we’re even on the telly. Live!

But Souness, former boss of Rangers, Celtic’s bitter Old Firm rivals, said he didn’t care if we lost both legs 3-0 so long as we stay in the Premiership.

“I don’t think there is one person who thinks that Blackburn are going to be relegated this season,” said O’Neill. “Blackburn are a top ten side, and they showed that by beating Newcastle the other week.”

And, with an impressive statement of prediction, he said: “On their day they are capable of beating Manchester United or Arsenal.

“Put it this way, I don’t think Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke went there to fight relegation battles.

“Graeme is quite cute, I would never see him, as a player, going into a game not wanting to win it.

“I would be absolutely astonished if he ever did it as a manager, whatever the game may be. So I wouldn’t read too much into what he says.

“But it doesn’t deflect from the fact we are under the most pressure. If we don’t win then people will ask why there’s so much talk of us perhaps joining the Premiership one day.”