'Walter Smith never swept into Ibrox promising to treat the Rangers fans to

[Boab 73]

Published on 28 Jan 2010

Walter Smith never swept into Ibrox promising to treat the Rangers fans to breathtaking displays.

There he aven’t been many of them during his second spell in charge of the club.

But the one thing you are guaranteed with his teams is they know how to grind out results – like last night’s 2-0 victory over St Mirren. That’s why the Light Blues legions might just find themselves toasting another title success come the end of the season.

Will any Rangers fans be bothered in the slightest that their team weren’t always the country’s most attractive side to watch should they secure a second successive title at a time when they aren’t even allowed to make new signings?

The answer, of course, is no. As much as every supporter wants to watch skilful players take on opponents and entertain them, football is a results business at the highest level – pure and simple.

And that is exactly what Rangers are doing. They haven’t got anywhere near top form since the turn of the year, yet they have managed to get the scorelines required to extend their lead at the top of the table to 10 points.

In the Old Firm showdown at Parkhead, despite being totally outplayed by Celtic, they hung in and got a share of the spoils. It was the same in the Scottish Cup against Hamilton when they held on for a 3-3 draw.

In the next match, also against Accies in the league, Walter Smith’s men were rotten, to put it nicely, but they emerged with all three points and then they went out and won the cup replay 2-0 in extra time. Once again they were poor.

At home to Hearts, albeit amid serious injury problems, they managed to score a last-minute equaliser. As things stand, it certainly appears as though that was a point gained rather than two dropped.

Then, last night, it was pretty much the same sort of display as the league leaders rolled up their sleeves, got their heads down and put in a shift before eventually emerging with three points in Paisley.

That, it would seem, is the difference between Celtic and Rangers at this moment in time when the championship race is reaching a stage where every point will have a major impact on the league standings.

When the going gets tough, the Gers manager always seems to get enough out of his players to bank the points. There is a stubbornness and determination within his team.

His back four consisted of four natural central defenders. Kirk Broadfoot and Sasa Papac might have been converted to full-backs for quite some time, but they are defenders first and foremost. Their focus is defending before attacking.

Across the midfield, the Rangers boss deploys the likes of Lee McCulloch, not the silkiest of footballers, but he’ll stick his head in where it hurts, throw himself into challenges and stand up and be counted in a physical battle.

And that provides the team with the backbone to go and win games such as last night’s.

In saying that, it would be harsh not to mention Steven Davis and credit the Northern Ireland international with a pivotal role in the victory.

Not only did he score the opening goal, he was at the heart of most of his side’s impressive moves. Like McCulloch and the other defenders, he can also dig in there and battle. You won’t find him being shoved off the ball too often.

“It was nice to see Steven get off and running for the season,” said Smith. “He scored up in our game against Dundee United when it was abandoned at half-time so it didn’t count, so he has had to wait a while for another.

“But his goal really helped us get off to a good start. The first 25 minutes was by far the best part of the game for ourselves. We had some decent possession of the ball and some opportunities to score. The St Mirren goalkeeper made some good saves.

“After that, we became a little bit untidy in terms of our possession but, give credit to St Mirren, they worked us very hard. They put a lot into the game, they played the ball forward early and got up after it and showed a lot of energy.

“Consequently, the game became a little bit scrappy. In the end, Nacho Novo’s goal took the pressure off us.

“We’ve got to continue to try and achieve a level of consistency that will keep us on top of the league, that’s the main thing. But there’s still a lot of football to be played this term.”

And the Rangers supporters will admit to wanting football that produces results over football that they find eye-catching.

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/editor...prize-1.1002125

Regardless of whether DMB or Novo are fit, and I'd suggest the furore of their both being out shows again the lack of depth brought in and lack of faith in youth (Say, Wylde could have played more recently at left wing) from the Manager, the Manager will eventually go back to a conservative approach - though this is often an affective approach.

[Frankie 505]

There have been more breath-taking displays under Smith than there have been under Strachan or Mowbray.

[simon 1,743]

I do think the article is a tad harsh. Against Hearts we played well for spells it was just in the final third we were very weak. We can pass the ball about well but without Boyd we struggle for goals. I have no doubt in my mind if we had Boyd and Miller fit for the last few games we would of won by a good margin. But credit where credit is due regarding Walter Smith and the team at the moment we are getting results and we are 10 league games unbeaten at the moment.

[Tumshie 205]

There have been better displays in the league this season than in the past 2 ironically