Football News  

Smith pleased with response

Walter Smith believes he finally saw glimpses of the spirit which saw Rangers compete on four fronts last season when they opened the new Clydesdale Bank Premier League campaign with a win at Falkirk on Saturday.

After Andrius Velicka scored the only goal of the game at the Falkirk Stadium, the Ibrox boss has backed his players to put their midweek European exit at the hands of FBK Kaunas firmly behind them following what was a dismal week for the club both financially and in terms of reputation.

He said: "There was a bit more activity about us than there was in the two games against Kaunas. It won't take away from the disappointment of what happened last week and I hope that will be with us for quite a while. But we definitely showed a determination and it was more like last season."

He added: "The biggest problem we have is that we have built up a reputation over the last 18 months and it got ruined in two games.
"Their attitude and determination to play was something we have not had to question over the 18 months I've been the manager.
"Obviously the two games we played over the last couple of weeks changed everyone's opinion so it was good they got that back again and I'm sure we will go on from here."

Falkirk probably deserved at least a share of the points but Allan McGregor's save from a Michael Higdon penalty when the game was still deadlocked proved to be a pivotal moment.

Smith said: "It was obviously an important save. There was a little bit of slackness on our own part in terms of defending.
"With the week that we've had it was one of those that you felt might have gone against us but it didn't and credit to Allan for making the save."