By Mark Buckingham Last updated: 3rd September 2007
MIller: Critical of Lawwell
Gordon Strachan has brushed off Kenny Miller's claims that the striker was forced out of Celtic.
Miller left the Scottish champions before the close of the transfer window to join Premier League strugglers Derby County in a £3million deal.
The Scotland international claimed Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell pushed him out of Parkhead by suggesting, among other complaints, he would not be involved in UEFA Champions League matches.
But, speaking after The Bhoys' 5-1 thrashing of St Mirren on Sunday, Strachan has rejected Miller's accusations.
"First of all, you cannot force anyone out of the door," said the Celtic boss.
"I will give you an example. Bobo Balde had the chance to go to Fulham or Sunderland and he turned it down.
"So you cannot force anyone out the door and everybody knows that.
"I think he (Peter) is magnificent in what he does and he has been a great friend of mine and always will be.
"We get on extremely well, as well as I've worked with anybody."

Portsmouth 1-2 Birmingham - McLeish
Portsmouth 1-2 Birmingham - Grant
Sunderland 4-0 Bolton - Coyle
Sunderland 4- 0 Bolton - Bruce
Sunderland 4-0 Bolton - Bent
Liverpool a mess - Whelan
The race for fourth place
Bruce urges belief
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 10th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Burnley vs Stoke |
| Saturday 13th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Tottenham vs Blackburn |
| 15:00 | Birmingham vs Everton |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Wigan |
| 15:00 | Burnley vs Wolverhampton |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs West Ham |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Aston Villa |
| 17:30 | Hull vs Arsenal |
| Sunday 14th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Man Utd vs Fulham |
| 16:00 | Sunderland vs Man City |
| Monday 15th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Liverpool vs Portsmouth |
| Tuesday 16th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Wigan vs Aston Villa |
| Saturday 20th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Aston Villa vs Wolverhampton |
| 15:00 | Everton vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Tottenham |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Birmingham |
| 15:00 | Wigan vs Burnley |
| 17:30 | Arsenal vs West Ham |
| Sunday 21st March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Man Utd vs Liverpool |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 9th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 4 - 0 Bolton | |
| Portsmouth 1 - 2 Birmingham | |
| Monday 8th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wigan 1 - 0 Liverpool | |
| Sunday 7th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Everton 5 - 1 Hull | |
| Saturday 6th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Arsenal 3 - 1 Burnley | |
| West Ham 1 - 2 Bolton | |
| Wolverhampton 0 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Sunday 28th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Tottenham 2 - 1 Everton | |
| Liverpool 2 - 1 Blackburn | |
| Sunderland 0 - 0 Fulham | |
| Saturday 27th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 2 - 4 Man City | |
| Birmingham 1 - 0 Wigan | |
| Burnley 1 - 2 Portsmouth | |
| Stoke 1 - 3 Arsenal | |
| Bolton 1 - 0 Wolverhampton | |
| Tuesday 23rd February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 3 - 0 West Ham | |
| Sunday 21st February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 3 - 0 Bolton | |
| Aston Villa 5 - 2 Burnley | |
| Fulham 2 - 1 Birmingham | |
| Man City 0 - 0 Liverpool | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester United | 29 | 63 |
| 2 | Chelsea | 28 | 61 |
| 3 | Arsenal | 29 | 61 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 28 | 49 |
| 5 | Manchester City | 27 | 49 |
| 6 | Liverpool | 29 | 48 |
| 7 | Aston Villa | 26 | 45 |
| 8 | Birmingham City | 28 | 43 |
| 9 | Everton | 28 | 41 |
| 10 | Fulham | 28 | 38 |
| 11 | Stoke City | 27 | 34 |
| 12 | Blackburn Rovers | 28 | 34 |
| 13 | Sunderland | 28 | 30 |
| 14 | Bolton Wanderers | 29 | 29 |
| 15 | Wigan Athletic | 28 | 28 |
| 16 | West Ham United | 28 | 27 |
| 17 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 28 | 24 |
| 18 | Hull City | 28 | 24 |
| 19 | Burnley | 28 | 23 |
| 20 | Portsmouth | 28 | 19 |
The Insider considers the man football fans love to hate and ends up saluting Gary Neville.
Kammy applauds Villa, Pompey and Paul Scholes... but says it's time to see the back of Sepp Blatter.
Man Utd were scruffy in victory as they went top while Arsenal made hard work of beating Burnley.
Birmingham exacted revenge for their weekend FA Cup exit as Cameron Jerome's brace downed Portsmouth.
Darren Bent struck a second-half hat-tick for Sunderland as they sealed a 4-0 victory over Bolton.
Sky Sports News understands Chelsea have resumed contract talks with Nicolas Anelka
Avram Grant has admitted Portsmouth's lingering nine-point deduction is affecting his players.
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has backed hat-trick hero Darren Bent to make England's World Cup squad.