Source: Team_Talk
Smith expects tough SPL run-in
Hibs - who managed to squeeze into the top six before the post-split fixtures were announced - made it difficult at Easter Road on Sunday, with the Ibrox side forced to grind out another hard-fought win.
And Smith believes life is going to get even tougher in the final five games of the campaign as Rangers desperately try to wrest the championship from Celtic's grasp.
"I think Sunday's game showed the difficulty we have," he said.
"There will be some really tough games between now and the end of the season.
"Hibs are the team who have qualified in sixth place and that was a really competitive game."
Rangers have two home games to look forward to against Hearts and Celtic immediately after the league split.
But Smith is mindful that his side have dropped points to both of those teams at Ibrox already this season.
He said: "We are happy to be getting home games but we will have to do better against both the teams we play at home than we did in the home matches we have already played them in this season.
"But we are happy enough to be playing at Ibrox at the start of the five games."
Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor were both absent from the squad that travelled to Edinburgh despite being available for selection again, as well as speculation that McGregor would at least find a place on the bench.
Instead, Smith praised his replacement in the first team, Neil Alexander, for pulling off a great save to deny Derek Riordan the opportunity to potentially claim a point for Hibs.
"It was a really good save for him," he said.
"The Hibs goalie also had a very similar save from Kenny Miller in terms of importance to the game.
"But, yes, you could say Neil's was a very important save at that stage."
Smith admits Steven Whittaker's opener after just two minutes was also crucial for a Rangers side incapable of killing games off recently.
Steven Fletcher equalised for the home side and goals from Andrius Velicka and Maurice Edu put Rangers back in front before John Rankin's strike set up a nervous finish for the visitors.
"We got the early goal which was a nice cushion for us and we needed it," said Smith.
"I felt Hibs played very well in the spell afterwards.
"We had one or two opportunities in the first half to increase our lead but overall our possession of the ball wasn't as good as it should have been.
"Credit to Hibs, they put us under a lot of pressure and were quick to the ball.
"I felt the game was fairly even in the first half and 1-1 was a reasonable reflection on play at half-time.
"In the second half we played a little bit better and getting the second goal was a big thing for us and we added another one.
"But, in the way some of our games have been going this season, we didn't hold on to that and it was an excellent hit from John Rankin to put us under a little bit of pressure at the end of the game.
"We were delighted to win because it's always difficult to come here and do so."
