Smith thought his team were going to hang on for a point

Manager Walter Smith saw Rangers' SPL lead reduced to one point after a last-minute defeat at Celtic Park.

"For us it is a difficult one to take losing it so late in the game," Smith told BBC Sport after the 2-1 loss.

"After holding out for the length of time we did the disappointing aspect for us was losing the goal just in the last seconds.

"Celtic, although they had territorial possession when we were down to 10 men, didn't create many opportunities."

Although the visitors were disappointed to lose the match, they remain favourites to clinch the league title having played two games fewer than their Glasgow rivals.

Smith admitted that his side were overrun in the first half but it was a different story after the break.

"Celtic were the better side in the first half and imposed themselves on the game better than we did, although there weren't many chances for either team in that first half.

"I don't think we could argue that Celtic deserved that lead.

"In the second half we started to impose ourselves as Celtic did in the first half and we played very well.

"We managed to equalise in our best spell of the game and then obviously when we got a player sent off the game was always going to turn.

"We were always going to be under a little bit of pressure. We had to defend and we did so brilliantly until the last few seconds."