December 12, 2001 – Dick Advocaat’s last match as Rangers manager and a date never to be forgotten.
Not because the Little General said his goodbyes in a game at Ibrox against Hibs mind you.
No. It was unforgettable as the night a slice of salmon disagreed with me and I spewed my guts up all over Stefan Klos and his kitbag.
Donald Park was in caretaker charge for Hibs as Alex McLeish had left to replace the Dutchman at Ibrox and we went for our usual pre-match meal at an East Kilbride hotel.
I always had chicken before games, either with beans or pasta, but we were told chicken was off the menu. No chicken, I couldn’t believe it. I’ve never been a fan of salmon but I was starving and there was no alternative.
Then during the warm-up at Ibrox I wasn’t feeling great, that salmon was disagreeing with me.
Five minutes into the game we won a corner and over came the ball. I felt the sickness rise and threw up inside the net and all over Stefan’s spare gloves, towel and water bottle. There was splatter which must have hit him as I raced past Klos to begin retching.
Pink salmon, it was everywhere. The keeper wasn’t happy, he was shouting what I can only think were obscenities in German.
Going off his nut he was, some of the Rangers boys were laughing. Big Bob Malcolm was in stitches.
Klos shouted over to his dugout and demanded another bottle of water so someone had to race behind the goal to give him it.
I managed to play on for an hour but it was the first and last time I ordered salmon for my pre-match. I’ve struggled to even look at fish ever since.
I haven’t lived it down, to this day I bump into Bob and he asks, ‘You still eating that salmon Tam?’
Now we have a table-topping return to the scene of the crime this weekend after digesting another round of results.
The truth is that Hibs didn’t play particularly well against St Johnstone on Sunday but the win told me a lot. This was the type of game Hibs were losing or drawing last season. There was also a slice of luck required to get the win as I don’t think it was a penalty which allowed Martin Boyle to score the winner.
The handball award against Jamie McCart was extremely harsh.
Make no mistake, this was a huge result for Jack Ross and his players against a decent St Johnstone side who have been a bogey team for a while now.
“It’s also the first goal Hibs have scored against Saints in five games so it was significant on many levels. A big result which takes us nicely into this Sunday’s trip to Ibrox and a top-of-the-table clash which should be a cracker.
First meets second and a Hibs side which remains unbeaten, it has all the ingredients of a great game and it’s also a chance for Jack’s squad to deliver a real statement of their intentions this season.
It’s a big ask to go to Ibrox with no fans, it will be packed with Rangers supporters but they can take heart from
Motherwell who went there a few weeks ago and bagged a result. The task is go there and play their own game. Hibs need to be brave on the ball and make the most of what is going to be a defining moment in the campaign.
If they can claim the scalp of the champions then everyone would really sit up and take notice.
Rangers aren’t firing on all cylinders, they were poor in their weekend win over Dundee and their defence is one which can be got at.
I still believe the Ibrox men will be champions in May but second place is up for grabs more than ever and the opportunity is there for Hibs if they continue putting wins together.
There’s a whiff in the air and it’s not the fish.
It’s the scent that this title race could have a few surprise contenders to finish second.
