Source: Team_Talk
Smith backs Edu to show quality
The United States international's appearances have been limited in his first season at Ibrox after arriving from Major League Soccer with high expectations and a price tag of £2.7million.
But he was given his chance at New Douglas Park when Pedro Mendes was sidelined with a thigh strain picked up in training and Edu made the most of the opportunity by striking up an impressive midfield partnership with skipper Barry Ferguson.
Ferguson netted the only goal of the game to allow Rangers to move three points clear of Celtic in the SPL ahead of their game against St Mirren later in the day and Smith had nothing but praise for both players.
"Barry's first goal of the season was a good one for us to get," he said.
"Maurice Edu came in and I thought Barry and Maurice played extremely well in the midfield.
"Hamilton crowd that area of the field and make it difficult for teams in there but I thought both were excellent."
Smiths says Edu has to be patient but assured him his time will come, adding: "I did say to him, as has happened with a number of the lads who come to play for the Old Firm, it takes a period of time to settle in.
"Him especially, because he was playing college football in America up until a year and a half ago and then one season in the MLS.
"He is still young in terms of his experience at professional level and it will take him a bit of time to come in. But I think he has the talent to be an exceptional midfield player."
While Rangers headed into the clash top of the league on goal difference, Hamilton were the other form team in the SPL, with just one defeat in 2009.
Smith said: "It was always going to be a difficult challenge for us and I was delighted with the way the team went about the game.
"Hamilton have made it a very difficult place to come and get a result and that's credit to them.
"I was a little disappointed that we weren't tidier in our final pass, especially in the final half hour of the game where we might have given ourselves a level of comfort.
"We allowed chances to go past and it's always a bit nervy towards the end of the game. But I thought we were excellent overall in terms of our defending."
Hamilton manager Billy Reid refused to criticise referee Craig Thomson, who frequently sparked a furious response from the home crowd with some of his decisions.
But the Accies boss was unhappy with one decision when Kris Boyd escaped unpunished for a two-footed tackle on Paul McGowan.
"I don't think I can comment on the referee," said Reid.
"But the one thing I will say is that we were disappointed not to get a foul just before the goal. I thought Kris Boyd lunged with two feet and it was a foul."
But Reid had no complaints about the result, adding: "We never created enough and we had no cutting edge.
"Credit to Rangers, that's why they have the best defence in the league and a solid back four. Rangers were worthy winners."
