Source: Team_Talk
Gers boss happy with friendly win
Walter Smith was happy with the way Rangers were made to work by Newcastle as they prepared for the new campaign with a 2-1 win at Ibrox.[LNB] Goals in each half from Kenny Miller and Steven Naismith proved enough for Rangers, who face Glentoran on Tuesday night, but most of their first team will be on international duty ahead of the SPL opener against Kilmarnock next weekend.[LNB]"It was a good workout," Smith said.[LNB]"They made us work extremely hard. Newcastle are a good side, I think they will do well in the Premier League this season.[LNB]"The result is never the most important thing at this stage of the season but it was nice to get a win."[LNB]Rangers lined up with Miller as lone striker and Naismith and Whittaker supporting from wide areas, but Smith does not plan to use the formation as his normal SPL tactic.[LNB]"It's something I always do in pre-season games, I always shape up as we do in European games," he said.[LNB]"Our domestic situation is reasonably set but it's one I could use in domestic games as well. But it's not one we will play on a normal basis in domestic games."[LNB]Meanwhile, Smith was non-committal when asked about reports in Monte Carlo that he is interested in signing Eidur Gudjohnsen on loan from Monaco.[LNB]"We have been offered millions of loan deals," the Rangers boss said.[LNB]"Hundreds of players are being offered on loan to clubs, not just us."[LNB]Newcastle boss Chris Hughton again left Sol Campbell out as the former Arsenal defender works on his fitness, and he confirmed the veteran would be unavailable for their return to the Premier League against Manchester United on August 16.[LNB]But he was pleased with the way his side defended overall.[LNB]"It's never a nice feeling losing football matches, especially this close to the start of the season," Hughton said.[LNB]"But there were far more positives from the performance than negatives.[LNB]"We have conceded two goals in a game where I thought Rangers' possession at times didn't threaten us as much as we thought they would.[LNB]"But in the areas where it matters most, we weren't clinical."
