Source: Team_Talk
Smith satisfied after stalemate
The stalemate at Parkhead sees Celtic remain in pole position with a two-point advantage in the SPL.[LNB]But, with the last Old Firm derby of the season at Ibrox, Smith was far from unhappy with the outcome.[LNB]Smith told BBC Scotland: "It's never an easy place to come to and I think the benefit of the draw probably goes to us in the sense that we have the last Old Firm game at home.[LNB]"But, from a Rangers perspective, we have to gain a level of consistency against the rest of the teams.''[LNB]He added: "I thought we were far better in the second half.[LNB]"We restricted Celtic to hardly any opportunities. The Nakamura free-kick was it.[LNB]"The first-half performance maybe didn't warrant a great deal but the second half was far better.''[LNB]Seventeen-year-old John Fleck became Rangers' youngest Old Firm debutant in almost 25 years and Smith confessed it was a tough match for the youngster.[LNB]He explained: "With the exception of Steven Davis, we were poor in the first half.[LNB]"When you are a young player you need a helping hand and everyone was having a struggle in the first half.[LNB]"Credit to Celtic, they put us under pressure and they worked very hard.[LNB]"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 have benefited from that.''[LNB]Striker Kyle Lafferty limped out of the action in the second half and Smith said: "He took a kick in the calf, which is causing him a bit of a problem.[LNB]"It has cramped up and there is a fair bit of bruising already so we will see how he is.''[LNB]Celtic manager Gordon Strachan praised goalkeeper Artur Boruc for playing a crucial role in the Glasgow derby.[LNB]Boruc prevented his captain Stephen McManus from netting an own goal, before pulling off another great stop to deny David Weir.[LNB]Strachan added: "That was good, that was refreshing seeing him back to where he was a wee while ago where he was actually saving games for us.''[LNB]The Celtic boss admits the problems for his team are at the other end of the pitch.[LNB]He said: "We are not at our best at the moment and we just have to plod along until we get back there.[LNB]"Up front, we are not functioning as a group because there are five strikers at the club.[LNB]"That group has to come to the fore now and score goals."[LNB]He added: "I would rather have won the game today but I didn't think Rangers deserved to get beat.''[LNB]Scott Brown was forced out of the game late on following a clash with Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor which left him dazed.[LNB]Strachan said: "It was an horrendous clatter. But, if we tell him he is all right, he will think he is all right! He's not really but he thinks he is.''[LNB][LNB]
