Smith satisfied with friendly win

08 August 2010 09:31

Rangers manager Walter Smith was happy with the way his side were made to work by Newcastle as they prepared for the new campaign with a 2-1 friendly win at Ibrox.

Goals in each half from Kenny Miller and Steven Naismith proved enough for Rangers, who face Glentoran on Tuesday night, but most of their first team will be on international duty ahead of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League opener against Kilmarnock next weekend.

"It was a good workout," Smith said. "They made us work extremely hard. Newcastle are a good side, I think they will do well in the Premier League this season.

"The result is never the most important thing at this stage of the season but it was nice to get a win."

Rangers lined up with Miller as lone striker and Naismith and Whittaker supporting from wide areas, but Smith does not plan to use the formation as his normal SPL tactic.

"It's something I always do in pre-season games, I always shape up as we do in European games," he said.

"Our domestic situation is reasonably set but it's one I could use in domestic games as well. But it's not one we will play on a normal basis in domestic games."

Meanwhile, Smith was non-committal when asked about reports in Monte Carlo that he is interested in signing Eidur Gudjohnsen on loan from Monaco.

"We have been offered millions of loan deals," the Rangers boss said.

"Hundreds of players are being offered on loan to clubs, not just us."

Source: PA