Hibs in false position - Smith

26 January 2011 09:00

Rangers manager Walter Smith has backed Hibernian to haul themselves away from the relegation zone after expressing his surprise at their ongoing struggles in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Hibs face the Scottish champions at Easter Road on Wednesday in desperate need of points after slipping to second bottom of the SPL following a string of poor results.

Smith said: "I find it very difficult to understand why they are in the position they are in after the performance at Ibrox (a 3-0 Hibs win) earlier in the season, where they played as well as any team has played over a few seasons. It's a little bit of a mystery why they find themselves in the position they are in at the moment."

He added: "While the reality is that they are there, to me, it would seem a rather false position. They are more than capable of getting out of the position they are in. That's what (manager) Colin Calderwood has been saying for the last few days and I would agree with his assessment of that.

"Sometimes when a game comes along against the Old Firm, teams see that as a catalyst for giving them the boost that's necessary. We face a dangerous game."

As well as making amends for the defeat the last time the two teams met, Rangers are also aiming to bounce back from a 1-0 loss at Hearts at the weekend.

"It's never an easy game there but we just need to look at ourselves at the moment," said winger Vladimir Weiss. "We need to keep on playing well and keep winning games.

"I don't think we have to prove anything. Everybody wants to go there and get the three points and start smiling again.

"Whoever saw the game on Saturday can't say that Hearts were the better team. They had one shot on goal and scored.

"It was really disappointing but you get games like that and we need to concentrate on the Hibs game and hopefully we will get three points."

Source: PA