Smith targets four wins

28 April 2011 00:01

Rangers manager Walter Smith has told his players that winning their last four matches would be a "terrific" finish to the season - regardless of whether it is good enough to retain the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title.

The champions saw the destiny of the title slip from their hands for the first time this season when they were held to a goalless draw by Celtic on Easter Sunday. But Rangers still lead the way by a point and have three opportunities to put pressure on Celtic, who have a game in hand.

"Since the Dundee United game that we lost we have been on a good run and we obviously realise that we need to win our remaining four matches and see what happens," Smith told Blues News. "What I would say is that if we manage to do that it would be a terrific finish to the season, regardless of how the championship finishes up."

The Light Blues will extend their advantage to four points if they beat Motherwell on Saturday - 24 hours before Celtic host Dundee United.

And, if they beat the Scottish Cup finalists at Fir Park, Rangers would definitely top the table if they win their following two matches, against Hearts and Dundee United at home, with Celtic playing the following day on each occasion.

"Of course we obviously hope that if we can win each match then that pressure will result in Celtic doing something that would be of benefit to us," Smith said.

Rangers hope to have midfielders Jamie Ness and Lee McCulloch back from injury for the run-in, but they are unlikely to start against Motherwell.

McCulloch is pushing for a return from knee surgery while Ness has been troubled by a calf strain.

Smith added: "We will have to see how things go as we reach the weekend. We are hopeful we will have Lee and Jamie back in the squad but neither of them will be fully match fit.

"Jamie has had more games in the second half of the season than Lee but they have both been missing for a while so we will have to be careful. We would certainly like to have them back for the remaining matches."

Source: PA