Source: Team_Talk
Smith won't declare victory yet
A late winner from Maurice Edu on Sunday allowed the Scottish champions to restore their 10-point lead at the top of the table, with a game in hand still to be played at St Johnstone at the end of the month.[LNB]Celtic boss Tony Mowbray conceded the championship was now Rangers' to throw away in the wake of their defeat at Ibrox.[LNB]But, even though their bitter rivals failed to dent their title hopes, Smith warned that the rest of the SPL could still pose problems for his side.[LNB]He said: "I find it very difficult to overcome the teams in Scotland and I think the boys who manage the teams in Scotland do a great job.[LNB]"They make it difficult for the Old Firm to win matches. You would never find me claiming that [the title is over] because of the respect I have for the other teams. We'll have to continue to do as well as we have been doing."[LNB]Edu - who had an earlier effort disallowed within seconds of replacing the injured Lee McCulloch - claimed the decisive goal deep into injury time and Smith admits he was resigned to taking a point from the famous fixture by that stage in the game.[LNB]"I thought we weren't going to get the goal," he said. "I thought we played very well in the second half of the game but we struggled a bit in the first half of the match and our possession of the ball wasn't good.[LNB]"I was delighted that we got the goal in the end.[LNB]"Celtic have got good forward players and we were going to have to do well to overcome that.[LNB]"They have been criticised for their defending but I thought they defended very well, especially in the second half of the game when we maybe had a bit more of the ball than we did in the first half.[LNB]"The main thing for us was that we managed to win the game and that's what we did."[LNB]Smith himself has admitted Rangers have defied the odds to carve out such an impressive title charge against a backdrop of financial worries and uncertainty at the club.[LNB]While they failed to add to their squad and sold Pedro Mendes in January, Celtic recruited eight new players - including the high-profile capture of Robbie Keane on loan - with five of them making their Old Firm debuts at the weekend.[LNB]But Edu believes Rangers' winning mentality and determination to hold onto the silverware has been the difference between the Glasgow giants.[LNB]He said: "All the guys in the squad here have the motivation and the desire to win another championship.[LNB]"Every day, whether it's in training or in games, you see the effort and heart and will that we play with in every game. I think that's shone through.[LNB]"Some games haven't been the prettiest of games but we grind them out and get the win that we need.[LNB]"I think if we carry that desire and mentality into the rest of the season, then I think we will be all right."[LNB][LNB]
