Smith sees tough road ahead

11 March 2011 18:30

Walter Smith admits it will be a "tall order" for his Rangers side to avoid dropping league points if their European run continues - but he insists there is no way he will prioritise competitions.

Rangers put themselves in a decent position to progress to the Europa League quarter-finals with a goalless draw at PSV Eindhoven on Thursday night.

"It's a tall order for us if we continue to play in Europe, I think that might be a factor depending on how our situation develops," Smith said. "I think there will be points dropped for all the clubs but Celtic went on a long run before losing to Motherwell. I think we will have to emulate that if we're going to be champions."

Rangers have played two SPL games less than Celtic, sitting five points behind their rivals, and have four outstanding matches to be scheduled, against St Mirren, Aberdeen, Dundee United and St Johnstone.

The Ibrox club let slip a seven-point lead to lose the title after their run to the 2008 UEFA Cup final and Smith admits another lengthy stint in Europe could define this year's challenge against Celtic, who exited European competition in August.

They have seen their ability to handle fixture congestion affected by cuts to the size of their squad, which has been stretched further by a glut of injuries, although Nikica Jelavic and Sasa Papac are both set to return against Kilmarnock on Sunday.

"If you look at the last time, we handled it all the way up until the last couple of games when we were asked to play three games in six days and stumbled a bit there," Smith said.

"To be honest, it's not going to help us, the extra games, especially with the smaller group we've got. But there is no use trying to prejudge anything."

"The priority is just to win. You can't choose. If you're in the professional game and you're in a tournament, you want to do as well as you possibly can.

"I think we've shown in the League Cup and Scottish Cup and Europe we try and do as well as we possibly can. That's the way it will be and that's the way it has to be at a club of this size."

Source: PA