Source: Team_Talk
Smith proud of battling Gers victory
The Scottish champions claimed a 2-1 win thanks to an early double from Kenny Miller, with Aiden McGeady's penalty not enough to prevent Tony Mowbray suffering defeat in his first clash with Rangers since taking over as Celtic boss.
It was an unfamiliar side named by Smith, with both Madjid Bougherra and Lee McCulloch out with flu and Kevin Thomson sidelined with a knee problem.
Sasa Papac was asked to deputise in the heart of defence along with David Weir, while youngster Andrew Little earned his first Old Firm start before limping off early on with a hamstring pull.
Kris Boyd was also forced out of the action after suffering concussion in a clash of heads with Landry N'Guemo but Rangers somehow managed to hold on to their advantage and slash Celtic's lead at the summit of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League to a single point.
"I feel we have had a slow start to the season as I've mentioned on a number of occasions," said Smith.
"We probably needed a game like that to, hopefully, kick-start our season.
"We've got Celtic back to a point now but it's no use unless we carry that on to the next lot of games we have."
Reflecting on a 4-2 win at Celtic Park back in 1994, which prompted a furious response from the home fans, Smith added: "We've had that kind of situation on a couple of occasions before.
"I remember struggling to put a team together one day at Parkhead. There were pies and Mars Bars being thrown from the stand after a while.
"It was a similar situation today, some of the boys who were playing were playing with knocks. There was a good spirit and determination, although I was little bit disappointed we didn't control the second half better than we did."
A win for Celtic would have allowed them to extend their lead to seven points, a scenario Smith was relieved to avoid.
"Considering all the aspects of the game, I was delighted with the win," he said.
"It was important for us that the gap didn't increase any, I think that was the most important thing more than anything else.
"You are always delighted when you get a win and it was important to cut back the lead, even at this early stage of the season.
"We have had three draws but we haven't lost a league game yet and, from our own point of view, we were delighted to hold on to that aspect of it.
"We cut Celtic back from what could have been a seven-point lead to a one-point lead and that's a huge thing for us."
A four-match touchline ban meant Smith was forced to watch the action from the Ibrox stand, with television pictures revealing the veteran boss to be more agitated and animated than usual, with coach Ian Durrant even earning himself a clip across the head at one stage.
"He gets that on a regular basis," said Smith.
"I've been cuffing him over the back of the ear for 20 years. It was a wee bit frustrating today. In the second half especially we stayed back when we should have pushed forward."
On Boyd's condition, Smith added: "He's got a concussion and he also has a nasty knock on the eye, which I hope will be all right once he gets checked out.
"He has to go to hospital but, with the concussion he has, he will be sidelined for a few days anyway."
