Source: Team_Talk
Smith: Lafferty is finally learning
Walter Smith believes Kyle Lafferty is finally beginning to settle at Rangers after the forward vowed to change for the better.[LNB] The Northern Ireland international has courted controversy since his move from Burnley and admitted he probably deserved some of the negative press he encountered.[LNB]One of the more high-profile incidents came against Sunday's opponents, Aberdeen, when he was retrospectively punished for feigning injury after a non-existent headbutt, which saw Charlie Mulgrew sent off.[LNB]However, Lafferty spoke of his desire to become a reformed character after netting a hat-trick against Dunfermline in midweek, and Smith can see signs that the player genuinely wants to turn over a new leaf.[LNB]The Rangers manager said: "He can't run away from some of the things that have happened but he is facing up to them now and I think he realises he has to change, there is a challenge for him.[LNB]"I can see that he's consciously trying to change. On the football side, he just has to gain a level of consistency.[LNB]"He has shown good bits in games and training and there has just been a bit of a lack of consistency in his play.[LNB]"It took a number of our players a period of time to settle down when they came in to meet the demands. Hopefully he can join those ones shortly."[LNB]Rangers have not won at Pittodrie since December 2006 and Kirk Broadfoot believes that record is down to Aberdeen raising their game against the Ibrox side.[LNB]He said: "I think it's just credit to Aberdeen, they've played very well against us but on a couple of occasions we've been unlucky with goals disallowed in the last minute that maybe would have won the match.[LNB]"Every team in the SPL raise their game against Rangers and Celtic.[LNB]"Maybe Aberdeen do more because the fans get right behind them and make it a good atmosphere and a good game.[LNB]"But it's another game in our eyes. They have done well against Rangers in the past and hopefully we can correct that this weekend."[LNB]Aberdeen will be without captain Paul Hartley after he suffered a hamstring injury that looks like ruling him out of Scotland's Euro 2012 qualifiers against Czech Republic and Spain.[LNB]But manager Mark McGhee still expects the former Celtic midfielder to have an influence on his team-mates as he contemplates handing 18-year-old Ryan Jack his first start.[LNB]"He has been a big influence and he will continue to be in the next two weeks," McGhee said.[LNB]"He should only miss two games. But he will still be able to influence Ryan Jack for instance.[LNB]"If Ryan Jack plays in the middle of the park, Paul Hartley will be standing next to him in the dressing room, helping him and encouraging him."
