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Page last updated at 15:19 GMT, Sunday, 31 January 2010

No complacency from Rangers, says Kevin Thomson

By Liam McLeod

Rangers midfielder Kevin Thomson
Thomson has returned from injury to cement his first-team place

Rangers midfielder Kevin Thomson insists nobody at the Glasgow club will relax despite their vice-like grip on the Scottish Premier League.

Saturday afternoon's 3-0 win over Falkirk at Ibrox followed Celtic's sluggish 1-0 defeat of Hamilton Accies.

"Everybody wants to come here and beat you," said Thomson. "We're the champions and we're under pressure to retain that title.

"It's the same type of pressure Celtic are under to try to win it back."

Thomson - who strolled through the match against the bottom-placed Bairns - admits it is important Walter Smith's men maintain their run of results that sits at just one defeat in 33 league games.

"At the moment, we're in the driving seat, but we're certainly not resting on our laurels," said Thomson.

With 15 SPL matches to go, Rangers are very much on course for a domestic treble with everything in their own hands and responded to Celtic's win earlier in the day with another three points.

I think the move suits Pedro's career because he wants to try and get back playing football and get into Portugal's World Cup squad

Rangers midfielder Kevin Thomson

"We knew they had won their game, but it's up to us to keep on winning," said Thomson.

"We had home advantage and, no matter what team comes here, we are confident in our own ability that we can win three points.

"Everybody's saying '10-point lead, seven-point lead', but we need to keep on winning our games. We know how difficult it is because seven points has been the magic number over the past couple of seasons.

"It's been turned on its head on several occasions, so we have to be on our guard."

Thomson's fellow-midfielder, Steven Davis, was man of the match against Falkirk.

A curling free-kick, an assist for John Fleck's second goal and another all-action performance was instrumental in Rangers' victory.

Davis will surely be on the shortlist for any player of the year awards if he maintains his current form.

And Thomson was quick to praise the Northern Irishman for the impact he has made and reckons Davis could be the difference between success and failure this season.

"He's a top player and is great to play with," said the Scotland international.

"He always shows for the ball, is always good on it. He's never one of of those players who go hiding when things aren't happening for him.

"The added extra thing that he gives to the team is he's always aware of what's round about him - he's got a great awareness.

"He always seems to find a pass in the final third and his assists with goals this season - like against Falkirk - has been top drawer."

Thomson has put his injury problems behind him this season to become one of the first names on Smith's team-sheets.

MY SPORT: DEBATE

And his place has been cemented in the side because of the injury and subsequent departure of Pedro Mendes, who sealed his move to Sporting Lisbon late on Saturday.

Thomson paid tribute to the Portuguese international, who most of his team-mates admit was a huge player for them in winning the double last season.

"Pedro's a great guy, another top player and he was a pleasure to play with," Thomson said.

"He's a clever player. He played in the Premiership and did well down there and I think it was evident when he came up here how good a player he was.

"I think the move suits his career because he wants to try and get back playing football and get into Portugal's World Cup squad. We wish him all the best."

Meanwhile, Smith is hopeful that striker Kenny Miller will be available for Wednesday's Co-operative Insurance Cup semi-final against St Johnstone, but winger DaMarcus Beasley will be missing for longer than initially expected.

"We won't have DaMarcus back for another 10 days or so because his injury has been slow to clear up," Smith told Rangers' website.

"He has been doing different bits of training, but we have to give him a bit more time to settle.

"As for Kenny, we'll need to wait and see. We were maybe a little bit unfair on him to ask that he played at St Mirren on Wednesday and his injury flared up again.

"Hopefully with not playing (on Saturday), it can settle down again and we can have him back on Wednesday or next weekend."

Smith also confirmed Sasa Papac would be fit for Wednesday's match despite having been taken off in the 3-0 win over Kilmarnock.



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see also
Rangers 3-0 Falkirk
30 Jan 10 |  Scottish Premier
Mendes completes Sporting switch
30 Jan 10 |  Rangers
Thomson sees no Old Firm contest
14 Dec 09 |  Rangers


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