Smith hoping experience shines

14 May 2011 10:00

Walter Smith hopes past experience of delivering championships will work in Rangers' favour when the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title race reaches its climax on Sunday.

The Scottish champions travel to Kilmarnock knowing victory will secure a third successive championship, regardless of events in Celtic's game against Motherwell.

And, with so many players who have been over the course before within the Rangers ranks, Smith is looking for them to hold their nerve for 90 minutes and clinch the silverware, saying: "I think the experience obviously helps you."

He added: "In the last two years we have won the championship away from home, at Easter Road last year and at Tannadice the year before.

"It helps, I don't think there is any doubt.

"There will be a nervous tension there, there will be little bits of apprehension that you will always have to overcome if you're going to win. There will be a bit of pressure placed on everyone.

"But we've handled it over the last few seasons and I just hope that having a group of players who have handled it before can help us this time."

The visit to Rugby Park marks Smith's final game as Rangers manager and he wants to bow out with the SPL crown for his players, rather than himself.

He said: "We look forward to the game because, for us, it's a vitally important one.

"I also think for the players, it means everything to them. I don't think, over the time I've been working, I've worked with a better group of players."

Source: PA