Source: Team_Talk
Smith: Rest of SPL no pushovers
Rangers boss Walter Smith claims not enough credit is given to Scottish Premier League teams outside of the Old Firm north of the border.[LNB] Rangers' bid to wrap up the SPL championship as soon as possible suffered a setback when they lost 4-1 at St Johnstone on Tuesday.[LNB]The defeat came less than a week after Smith's men were knocked out of the Active Nation Scottish Cup by Dundee United, on the same night St Mirren thumped Celtic 4-0.[LNB]Much of the reaction to those defeats has centred on the negative aspect of the Old Firm's performances.[LNB]However, as Rangers prepare to face Billy Reid's Hamilton at Ibrox on Saturday, Smith reiterated that teams outside Glasgow's big two are more than capable of causing problems - in the short term at least.[LNB]Smith, whose side were taken to extra time in a Scottish Cup replay against Hamilton last month, told Rangers News: "We've scored against Accies in the past but we've also struggled to get them at times as well.[LNB]"Managers in Scotland have done an excellent job and that applies to Billy Reid too. He organises his teams very well.[LNB]"Hamilton are always difficult to play against. They have proved that over the last couple of seasons.[LNB]"They've got a lot of younger lads in their pool who are doing very well and they make things very difficult.[LNB]"I keep saying that people don't appreciate how difficult it is to overcome the sides we come up against.[LNB]"Because we and Celtic collectively have won so many championships, they underestimate the other teams.[LNB]"Looking in from the outside in Scotland, some just assume we turn up and win games but they don't understand it isn't that simple.[LNB]"Anyone who comes up here from England to work will testify that it's not as simple as some people believe."
