Source: Team_Talk
Smith: League title matters most
Smith was forced into changes in central midfield with Kevin Thomson and Lee McCulloch banned and Steven Davis suffering from a virus, with Steven Naismith and Maurice Edu filling the void.[LNB]But, with so many crucial games in a short period of time, he also opted to leave regular strike duo Kris Boyd and Kenny Miller on the bench in favour of youngsters John Fleck and Andrew Little.[LNB]But it was United who netted the goal that mattered, David Robertson's last-minute winner ending any hope of a domestic treble for the Scottish champions.[LNB]Smith said: "We've got four games in 10 days and, for us, the league is obviously an important factor. But that's not to take away from tonight's game.[LNB]"I wanted to do well in the game and I thought we worked very hard. A lot of our younger players came in and did very well. It was just disappointing that we lost out so late in the game.[LNB]"The most important thing for our club overall is to win the league championship, that's the most important aspect. Four games in 10 days would be a lot to ask of any group so we made a decision to change the team around.[LNB]"That's why the majority of big clubs have big squads of players - we don't and we had to change it around."[LNB]Rangers threw away a 3-1 lead when they were pegged back to 3-3 by United at the first time of asking and Smith believes that result at Ibrox is what ultimately cost his players a last-four meeting with Raith Rovers.[LNB]He said: "I'm disappointed but we have to look at the game at Ibrox as being costly for us. We were 3-1 up there and should have been able to see the game out.[LNB]"We weren't able to do so and suffered the consequences this evening. I'm not saying that we had the game at Ibrox won because we ended up drawing.[LNB]"But, at 3-1, we really should have been able to see the game out at home and we should have handled the situation better than we did.[LNB]"That was the costly aspect for us, more than even tonight's game. In the end, you can't begrudge United their win."[LNB]Rangers failed with a last-gasp attempt to have Thomson's suspension quashed just hours before the game when referee Craig Thomson opted to stand by the red card he gave the midfielder in Sunday's Co-operative Insurance Cup final.[LNB]Smith said: "I'm not surprised at that but that's got nothing to do with tonight's game."[LNB]The decision to dismiss the appeal came less than an hour after the it was lodged with the Scottish Football Association and, when pressed on the swiftness of their action, the Rangers boss replied: "I've got nothing to say about that. It's just about the football tonight."[LNB]Rangers defied the odds to win the League Cup with nine men against St Mirren at the weekend and United boss Peter Houston believes his players showed similar character to dump the Scottish Cup holders out.[LNB]He said: "It was an absolutely magnificent performance from the players and I thought we dominated the match in the first half.[LNB]"The only disappointment was going into half-time still 0-0 but we had to keep going. The great character and resilience that Rangers showed on Sunday, I felt the United players showed that tonight."[LNB]United failed with two penalty claims in the first half and also had a David Goodwillie effort ruled offside.[LNB]Asked if he thought it was not going to be their night, Houston added: "No, I didn't think it wasn't going to be our night - I thought it wasn't going to be our night for getting any penalties. Goody's goal was a touch and go whether it was offside, it was marginal if anything."[LNB][LNB]
