Dons are the form team, says Smith

20 January 2009 18:46
But he has warned against allowing the Dons to record an Old Firm double when Rangers make the trip north to Pittodrie on Saturday.[LNB]Victory over Falkirk at Ibrox - combined with Aberdeen's impressive 4-2 win over Celtic - means Rangers have clawed themselves to within two points of the SPL leaders.[LNB]But the Granite City proved a difficult venue earlier in the season when Rangers had to settle for a 1-1 draw and Smith is well aware that three points will be difficult to come by again this time around.[LNB]He said: "Aberdeen are obviously the form team in the country right now.[LNB]"It was always going to be a difficult game for Celtic last weekend - as it will be for us this weekend - so we were obviously pleased that the points differential was cut at the weekend."[LNB]Rangers trailed Celtic by seven points following last month's Old Firm derby but, with just a couple of points between the[LNB]Glasgow rivals now, Smith believes the title race is too close to call.[LNB]He told the club's official website: "I think the championship this year will be tight.[LNB]"We have dropped points this season when we have had the best of the game and that has been a disappointing factor.[LNB]"However, having lost the Old Firm game a few weeks ago we are obviously pleased that we have got the situation back to two points.[LNB]"I think ourselves and Celtic are reasonably close together.[LNB]"They have had the slight advantage for most of the season but as I have said since the turn of the year we need a consistency in our performances.[LNB]"We managed to do that at this time last year but we know we are going to have to work hard to achieve this again."[LNB]Meanwhile, Smith is confident of having enough personnel to cover for the loss of Sasa Papac for the next two games if an appeal against his sending-off is thrown out.[LNB]If the straight red card against Falkirk stands, that would mean an automatic one-match ban against Aberdeen and would push the full-back through the points barrier meaning he would also sit out the visit of Dundee United.[LNB]Smith said: "That's something that would disappoint us.[LNB]"He has been a steady player for us and has played very well for us after moving from central defence to left-back. We would just have to cover for it.[LNB]"Steven Whittaker has not been playing recently and both he and Kirk Broadfoot can play at left-back so we have cover for that situation."[LNB][LNB]  

Source: Team_Talk