Source: Team_Talk
Smith worried by Gers goal drought
The Scottish champions have been held to goalless draws in their last three league encounters against Motherwell, Kilmarnock and Aberdeen.
Those results mean Celtic could open up a seven-point lead at the summit of the SPL if they leave Ibrox with a victory on Sunday.
Nacho Novo did manage to score a fine goal against Sevilla in the Champions League midweek but the 4-1 scoreline means his late strike has offered scant consolation ahead of such a crucial encounter.
"It's a concern for us when you go three league games and don't score a goal," admitted Smith.
"It's an unusual circumstance and it does start to become a little bit of a concern."
Smith was also unhappy with the defence on Tuesday night but believes European results - Celtic were held to a draw at home by Rapid Vienna in the Europa League - will have little bearing on this match.
He said: "I think the Celtic game is one that every player knows the importance of for the whole club.
"Never mind the league position at the moment, the Old Firm matches are for the supporters, for the bragging rights for a number of weeks before we play again.
"The importance of the Old Firm games is there for everybody to see and it helps alleviate the disappointment of a poor European result.
"We have seen over the last couple of seasons that the outcome of the matches has an effect on the championship.
"Allied to the fact that we find ourselves behind Celtic at the present moment, it's a very important one for ourselves on Sunday."
Meanwhile, Pedro Mendes believes the visit of Celtic would be the ideal time to rediscover their goalscoring form.
"It's obviously a concern for the team," he admitted.
"Normally we are a team who score a lot of goals and in the last few games we have struggled.
"So it's something we have to work on and improve, not only the finishing but also the service for the strikers. We have to keep working and hopefully it will happen."
And he insists Rangers must banish all thoughts of their crushing defeat to Sevilla before facing their biggest rivals.
He said: "I don't think that game will be on our minds, it can't be. They are different competitions.
"It was a hard game for us, we can't hide that. But we have a big game ahead for us and we have to focus on Sunday's game.
"After a game like that, you just want the next game to come quickly and to get back on the pitch and do things right again.
"Of course, the Old Firm game is one that you don't need to talk much about.
"It's one that everyone is definitely looking forward to being involved in so it's good to have an exciting game back at Ibrox so soon after the European game."
