Source: PA
Smith plays down title talk
Walter Smith watched his side draw first blood in this season's Old Firm title battle at Celtic Park then dampened down talk of winning three-in-a-row.
The Clydesdale Bank Premier League champions fell behind to a Gary Hooper goal in first-half injury time. However, the Light Blues' fightback started three minutes after the break when Glenn Loovens scored an own goal before Kenny Miller volleyed the visitors ahead after a mix-up in the Celtic defence.
Former Parkhead striker Miller sealed the win with a controversial penalty in the 67th minute when referee Willie Collum, taking charge of his Old Firm game, pointed to the spot after Hoops stopper Daniel Majstorovic had tangled with Kirk Broadfoot. Television pictures suggested the Rangers substitute had gone down very easily but there was little doubt the Ibrox men deservedly extended their winning run in the SPL to nine games to go three clear at the top.
Rangers boss Smith, who had a veiled dig at his Celtic counterpart Neil Lennon by saying Collum had been put under unfair pressure before the game, said: "It was a good afternoon and a good win but we are very early in the season to be talking about championships.
"There are a lot of games yet to be played but we are delighted at the position we are in. I don't think I can remember starting with nine wins in a row as a manager, even in my previous spell here.
"It is a nice way to start the season but we know that there are a lot of problems which lie in front of us. There are other Champions League games to play and it's always difficult to come back from that and I felt the game against Valencia in midweek had a little bit of an effect on us."
