Rangers must match Celtic consistency says Smith

Walter Smith believes Rangers most show the consistency of Celtic if they are to be crowned champions this season following a 3-1 win over Kilmarnock at Ibrox.

The Glasgow giants banished the memory of last weekend’s goalless Old Firm derby by brushing aside Killie in an impressive performance which sent Rangers top of the Scottish Premier League for the first time since November.

Celtic play their game in hand against Motherwell on Sunday as they continue their quest for their fourth league title in a row.

And Smith believes his side, who face Hamilton and Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the next ten days, must match the winning runs the Parkhead club have gone on in previous years if they are to capture the SPL title for themselves.

“The main thing in any given weekend is to win the game. Rangers have to find a consistency in terms of winning if we are holding out any hopes of becoming champions,” Smith said. “Celtic have shown over the last few seasons that they have been able to gain that consistency.

“We have to show that we can gain it if we hope to win the league this season. So that’s the challenge for us. It’s an ongoing challenge and in this part of the season we have been as consistent – in terms of our overall play – as we have been at any other time in the season.”

SPL top-scorer Kris Boyd added another goal to his tally in the game against his former club. And the lethal marksman believes the pressure is now firmly on Celtic with Rangers again playing first next weekend in the early kick-off game against Hamilton.

“Obviously, it’s a huge boost for us to go top today,” Boyd said. “The pressure is back on Celtic now. Fir Park is always a hard place to go to pick up points. We can continue to put the pressure on them if we beat Hamilton next week in the early kick-off.”

On Saturday, Rangers roared back to the top of the Scottish Premier League with a 3-1 win over Kilmarnock at Ibrox thanks to a Kenny Miller double.

With Celtic not due to play Motherwell at Fir Park until Sunday the Gers took full advantage to pile the pressure on their rivals by opening a one-point gap at the top of the table.

The home side had an early scare when Kilmarnock took the lead through Jamie Hammill as Allan McGregor was beaten for the first time in five games.

But goal machine Boyd soon had Rangers on level terms before a double from striker partner Miller sealed a 3-1 win.

It was Kilmarnock who took a surprise lead through Hammill in the 17th minute.

Garry Hay did well to beat Kirk Broadfoot down the right-wing and Hammill was there to meet his cross and knock the ball high into the net.

Boyd got Rangers level with half an hour gone.

Madjid Bougherra headed a Mendes corner at the back post to Boyd whose volley was too powerful for Combe to keep out.

Three minutes later Boyd turned provider as he set up Miller to put Rangers ahead.

Boyd’s flick on took a touch off Frazer Wright into the path of Miller, who finished with a low drive past Combe.

Miller got his second in the 35th minute. The Scotland international snuck behind the Killie defence to meet a perfect through pass from Mendes, which he stroked beyond the helpless keeper for a clinical finish.