Scottish Premiership

We do not fear Kilmarnock's plastic pitch but it should be banned – Arfield

The Rangers midfielder believes the plastic surface should not be allowed in top level football.
By Andy Newport, | 3h

Scott Arfield believes Kilmarnock's plastic pitch should be outlawed – but the Rangers midfielder insists his side do not fear the Rugby Park surface.

The Ibrox club return to Ayrshire on Wednesday night for the first time since winger Jamie Murphy suffered a serious knee injury back in August.

Murphy's knee appeared to buckle on the artificial turf and he is now expected to miss up to nine months of action as a result.

Angry Gers boss Steven Gerrard said after that Betfred Cup clash that there was no place for plastic in the top professional ranks.

Arfield backs that view but stressed there would be no trepidation in the Light Blues ranks as they run out to face Killie desperate to avoid a stumble that could hand Celtic the edge again in the title race.

"I just echo the gaffer's thoughts and the rest of the managers in this league," said the 30-year-old.

"I don't think these surfaces should be anywhere near top-level football but it is what it is. It's another obstacle to overcome and we need to just go and win the game.

"I don't think you can (go into the game with any trepidation). If you go in with that you are doing yourself harm and more so the team harm.

"So I don't think there is any hesitation going into the game and you see these injuries happen in grass football.

"It was one of those things. Obviously it was a shocker for Jamie and a shocker for us and I think it's more likely to happen on these artificial surfaces. I just echo those thoughts that they shouldn't be anywhere near it."

It is three weeks since Gers were last in action when they claimed a vital Old Firm victory over Celtic.

And Arfield says the feel-good factor swirling round Ibrox remains just as high as it was when the final whistle sounded on their 1-0 triumph over Brendan Rodgers' side.

He said: "After a result like that you move on fairly quickly but you remember that feeling and compare that against the feeling we had at Parkhead in September.

"So there is obviously still a buzz there but it is up to us to keep that buzz going because there is no point in putting all that hard work in and then undoing it tomorrow night.

"I think everybody maxed out for the Celtic game and rightly so but every game should be that big when you play for a club of this size.

"Every game is huge and it's another game towards a successful year. So every game should be that."



amp_article_347634 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2019-01-23 07:34:34:
html db last update - 2019-01-23 06:06:45 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Scott Arfield

Click here for more stories about Rangers

Share this article now:

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!
Loading ...
Recommended Next on SM
Gerrard satisfied with Helsinki run out for Defoe and Davis
Search for missing plane carrying Cardiff striker Sala to resume at sunrise
Ramsey 'could still join Juve this month'
Vieira would be wasting his time bidding for Morelos – Gerrard

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool23193154134160
2Manchester CityMan City23182362174556
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs23170648232551
4Chelsea23145440192147
5Arsenal23135548321644
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd23135546331344
7Watford239683232033
8Wolverhampton WanderersWolves239592731-432
9Leicester CityLeicester2394102929031
10West Ham UnitedWest Ham2394103034-431
11Everton238693433130
12Bournemouth2393113342-930
13Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2375112532-726
14Crystal Palace2364132332-922
15Southampton2357112540-1522
16Burnley2364132343-2022
17Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2356121931-1221
18Cardiff CityCardiff2354141944-2519
19Fulham2335152151-3014
20Huddersfield TownHuddersfield2325161340-2711
Scroll for more - Tap for full version

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool23193154134160
2Manchester CityMan City23182362174556
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs23170648232551
4Chelsea23145440192147
5Arsenal23135548321644
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd23135546331344
7Watford239683232033
8Wolverhampton WanderersWolves239592731-432
9Leicester CityLeicester2394102929031
10West Ham UnitedWest Ham2394103034-431
11Everton238693433130
12Bournemouth2393113342-930
13Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2375112532-726
14Crystal Palace2364132332-922
15Southampton2357112540-1522
16Burnley2364132343-2022
17Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2356121931-1221
18Cardiff CityCardiff2354141944-2519
19Fulham2335152151-3014
20Huddersfield TownHuddersfield2325161340-2711
Scroll for more - Tap for full version
X

We value your privacy

A part of our GDPR compliance we need to ask for your consent. We and our partners use technology such as cookies on Sports Mole to personalise content and ads, provide social media features, and analyse our traffic. Click below to consent to the use of this technology on Sports Mole.