Source: Team_Talk
Gers boss happy to talk football
Ibrox skipper Barry Ferguson and goalkeeper Allan McGregor were suspended without pay for two weeks by Rangers following their antics while on international duty for Scotland.
The pair were dropped for the midweek win over Iceland following their involvement in a drinking session at the team hotel last weekend, before flicking V-signs at photographers while on the bench at Hampden.
Both have been handed lifetime bans by Scotland and speculation is rife they have also played their last games for Rangers.
The timing could not have been worse for a team chasing a title and who still trail Celtic by three points in the Scottish Premier League.
And Smith was more than happy to focus on football matters again.
"That's really what it's about," he said. "We feel a lot of the stuff there was actually nothing to do with our own football club, it was just landed on our doorstep.
"We are delighted to get this game played, won, and hopefully we can settle down a little bit after that."
When quizzed further about Ferguson and McGregor, Smith added: "I would prefer if you could just concentrate on the footballing aspects.
"Banks went bust and didn't get as many column inches as we have been getting recently."
Kris Boyd netted the only goal of the game after just nine minutes and Rangers managed to hold on for the three points despite the best efforts of Falkirk in the second half.
Smith was pleased with his striker's efforts, saying: "It was a good contribution for us."
But he admits the overall performance at the Falkirk Stadium left a lot to be desired.
"There was a little bit of slackness in terms of our possession," he said.
"We had quite a few opportunities, especially after the goal, to break through Falkirk's back four but poor touch and control and passing didn't allow us to create the majority of opportunities.
"We would have settled down after the first goal but the lack of continuity in terms of our possession stayed with us for the majority of the game."
Smith also revealed that Lee McCulloch is likely to miss Wednesday's visit to St Mirren after limping off with an injury to the same calf which has already sidelined him this season.
Bottom side Falkirk may have felt aggrieved at being denied a penalty late on, when Michael Higdon appeared to be pushed by Steven Whittaker but boss John Hughes insisted Rangers deserved praise for claiming the win after such a turbulent period.
He said: "We might have had a claim for a penalty on big Higdon. But let's take nothing away from Rangers.
"Everything that went on at that club during the week means it was a big, big match for them.
"There was a lot of attention on them and they have come away with a clean-sheet and three points. You have to take your hat off to that."
Falkirk remain rooted to the bottom of the SPL but Hughes is even more confident about their survival hopes following their efforts against Rangers.
He said: "Even in defeat, I can take positives. If we keep playing like that from now until the end of the season, then I'm confident we can pick up the wins to stay in the SPL.
"The belief in the dressing room is brilliant."
Rangers 2/5, Draw 10/3, St Mirren 15/2
