Lee Wallace warns Rangers 'not to rest on laurels'

28 September 2011 02:35

Lee Wallace helped Rangers move seven points clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League before warning his team-mates to guard against complacency.

The Scotland defender, who moved from Hearts in the summer, made his return from injury in the second-half of a 2-0 victory over Kilmarnock which saw Rangers open a formidable gap over second-placed Celtic.

Rangers had looked flat in the opening 45 minutes at Ibrox on Tuesday before two goals in two second-half minutes from Nikica Jelavic and Gregg Wylde helped them rack up their eighth consecutive league win.

With Celtic not playing until Sunday due to their involvement in the Europa League, Rangers have the chance to increase their advantage on Saturday when they face Hibernian at Ibrox.

Celtic face a difficult trip to Tynecastle to take on Hearts on Sunday but Wallace said he wouldn't be relying on his old club to do him a favour.

"You sometimes do have to look at other results just to give you that little bit of help but we will just stay solely focussed on our job," Wallace said.

"We will take every game as it comes and, as champions, go out there and try and win every game.

"We have to remain focused and not become complacent and go out there and play the way Rangers play and that is to play well and win our games."

Rangers boss Ally McCoist, who came in for criticism after his side exited two European competitions at the beginning of the season, admitted he was delighted to see his side so far in front in the league.

"Obviously Celtic have a game in hand but it is a good place to be," McCoist said.

"There is miles to go - we are not even a quarter of the way through the season - so there is an awful long way to go.

"But I would have to say our league results and the vast majority of our league form has been really good so in that respect I would have to say it is a good place to be."

Rangers struggled to make an impact in the first-half without their top scorer Steven Naismith, who was retrospectively given a two match ban following an elbow incident in the weekend?s match against Dunfermline.

Naismith swung an elbow at Dunfermline defender Austin McCann in an off-the-ball incident missed by referee Iain Brines at East End Park.

But a Scottish Football Association compliance officer assessed TV evidence and Rangers accepted the penalty.

However, McCoist said he was still confused as to who was behind the punishment for Naismith.

"We are still not sure who has banned Steven. It's not a problem as we have accepted it but it would be nice to know who's banned him," he said.

"We don't know an awful lot about it. We are not arguing with the verdict but it would be nice to know who judge and jury are.

"It is a mistake and that's what it is. We have accepted it and we just want fairness.

"I'm not going to say we didn't miss him. I would far rather he was in our squad and available for selection which he wasn't.

"He's obviously out for the weekend as well and I'll be a lot happier man when he is in the squad and in the team.

"In terms of Steven his energy and aggression and desire are massive components of his game and I do not want to take that away from him. But at the same time everybody knows you can't do what he did at the weekend."

Source: AFP