Smith confessed his surprise at overhauling Celtic's lead

Rangers manager Walter Smith says he did not expect to be back at the summit of the Scottish Premier League so soon.

The Ibrox club are top for the first time since October, less than two months after their Old Firm home defeat sent Celtic seven points clear.

Smith said: "We're delighted to be in that position. We were sitting seven points behind Celtic."

"And with the consistency they have shown over the seasons, I thought it would take a lot for us to catch up."

Gordon Strachan's reigning champions have won just one of six SPL games since their 1-0 victory at Ibrox in December, the latest a 1-1 draw at Motherwell on Sunday.

After being seven points down, I did feel it would be a difficult gap to close Rangers manager Walter Smith

Rangers held on to top spot after opening up a 10-goal advantage over their Glasgow rivals on Saturday with a 3-1 victory over Kilmarnock.

Smith continued: "We have played some good stuff. Saturday's game was typical of that.

"We started very well and found ourselves a goal down, but we had a good reaction and were 3-1 up at half-time.

"So I'm delighted there and obviously the fact that Celtic drew at Motherwell, which is a hard place to go at the present moment.

"We're delighted to get back on top of the league, albeit on goal difference."

Despite Celtic's shaky run of results, Smith expects another neck-and-neck sprint for the title.

Celtic won their third consecutive league crown last season despite being seven points behind Rangers in April.

But the Rangers manager is still relieved his side have got themselves firmly back in the race.

Smith told the club's official website: "After being seven points down, I did feel it would be a difficult gap to close.

MY SPORT: DEBATE Are Rangers fans surprised be ahead in the title race?

"But there is a lot of football to go, a lot of tough games.

"When you consider you're playing the other top five teams in the last few games of the season, you're always going to get a very tight situation.

"We're sitting on goal difference, the teams are in the League Cup final together, so there's not a great deal between the two teams.

"We've got to say to ourselves that's the way it's going to be."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version