Smith's Old Firm record at Celtic Park stands at five defeats in 19 matches

Rangers manager Walter Smith thinks his forward Kenny Miller had a strong case for a penalty during Sunday's 0-0 draw at Celtic Park.

Miller was felled in the box by Celtic's Stephen McManus on 78 minutes after firing a wayward shot at goal.

"I think anywhere else on the pitch and the referee would have given a foul," Smith told BBC Scotland.

"But we're in the penalty area and he doesn't, so as long as he continues on a consistent basis we'll not complain."

The incident was one of the few talking points after an otherwise dour match at Celtic Park, which was overseen by referee Calum Murray, making his Old Firm debut.

However, the Rangers manager said he was "reasonably happy" to leave Glasgow's east end with a point.

MY SPORT: DEBATE Should Miller have been awarded a penalty?

"I was really disappointed with our performance in the first half. Celtic were far brighter than we were," said Smith.

"In the second half we imposed ourselves on the game more. Artur Boruc had two terrific saves.

"We restricted Celtic to hardly any opportunities - the Nakamura free-kick and really that was it."

Celtic had the better of a torrid first period, with striker Scott McDonald heading wide from just a few yards out.

The Ibrox side were the stronger after the break, though, and Smith suggested that his team might have grabbed the three points that would have taken them to to the top of the league.

"After our first-half performance, I can be reasonably pleased with the draw, but a little bit disappointed that we never made more of the second half - Kenny Miller had a good opportunity; Steve Davis, a bit of mis-control," said the Rangers boss.

"Our first-half performance was as poor as we have played away from home this season. Credit to Celtic. They put us under pressure early. They were quick at us all the time and we never reacted to that.

Commenting on the performance of John Fleck, who became the youngest Rangers player to start an Old Firm derby since Derek Ferguson in December 1984, Smith said: "Like everyone, except Steve Davis, in the first half we were poor overall and when you're a young player you need a helping hand and everybody was struggling.

"So it was a good education for him. It's not easy for a young boy to come and play at Celtic Park but he did that and will benefit from it."

The result means the race for the championship will be close and Smith knows Rangers must guard against dropping points to the other 10 teams in the league if they are to stop Celtic winning four titles in a row.

He said: "The benefit of the draw possibly goes to us in the sense that we have the last home game in the Old Firm, but we have to gain a level of consistency against the rest of the teams in Scotland."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version