Older heads suggest Rangers can go the distance this time

IF THERE was a moment which summed up the determination at Ibrox to secure a first title since 2005 it arrived after the final whistle on Saturday.

Three or four Rangers players – younger, more impulsive members of the side – had begun to drift towards the home stands, fists pumping, smiles as wide as the Clyde. But Davie Weir, flawless throughout on the eve of his 39th birthday, made another telling intervention; 'you lot, in there' was the gist of his thumb-led gesture, as the skipper observed these hints at premature celebration with a rising distaste.

These cowed players followed him down the tunnel and into a dressing-room where you can be sure the same message was hammered home again: let's close this deal. Until that moment comes, and if it should come, then the lid should stay firmly on the celebrations.

Suddenly, having trailed Celtic by seven points after the last Old Firm fixture at Ibrox, Rangers are now in front. They cannot let it slip. Not this time. Walter Smith later admitted to having had times when he despaired of ever catching Celtic. Now the bid for the championship is back in their own hands, and at such an advanced stage, those such as Weir recognise the need to tread warily.

But how close they are to claming what they most desire must be recognised, as must Smith's bravery when dropping his first-choice goalkeeper for a breach in discipline. He also stripped Barry Ferguson of the captaincy. Notably, Weir and Neil Alexander, promoted to skipper and No 1 goalkeeper, were the foundations on which Rangers triumphed on Saturday. Weir was duped once by Scott McDonald, but otherwise enjoyed as trouble-free an Old Firm game as can be expected of someone hours away from his 40th year. Alexander, meanwhile, never stopped communicating with his defenders. He transmitted authority through his actions as well, courtesy of handling that was clean and confident in difficult conditions.

Smith applauded his players for managing to rise above "injuries, suspensions and one or two problems off the field" to reach the point where, with the finishing line in sight, they have edged in front of Celtic. "This season there have been periods when I didn't think we were going to get to this stage, but from what I see of the lads that we've got I'm confident they can handle the situation," he said. "We were seven points behind at one stage of the season. When we lost here to Celtic (in December] to go seven points behind it was disappointing because it was probably the best we had played in any of the Old Firm games since I came back. We've worked hard to get into this position and now we must show that we can close it."

Smith will have been glad to survey Weir's actions after the final whistle. The defender's quiet professionalism is one of the reasons why he has become so valued at Ibrox, and his experience will stand the team in good stead in the coming weeks. The Rangers manager knows that by the time the Ibrox side take to the field again they might already be playing catch-up once more, with Celtic back in action against Dundee United tomorrow night. Rangers travel to Hibernian the following night.

"I said at the weekend that if the Old Firm game was the last game of the season and you were going to win the championship then we would have no problem saying that's the game that matters more than any, but otherwise it's a disrespect to the other teams that we have to play," he pointed out.

"Anybody who was at Easter Road the other week would have seen that we had a difficult game there and Tannadice has always been a difficult place for us to go. Aberdeen at home is the same. Celtic face difficult matches, too, so I always think that the hype that surrounds the Old Firm shows a disrespect to the other teams.

"We know ourselves that people are going to have to play extremely well for us to get the championship, but we're in a good position now and we have to show that we can handle it."

Smith paid tribute to Maurice Edu, who recovered from a kick from Glenn Loovens in the first-half to play a key part in the victory. The manager never envisioned playing Edu in such a pivotal match a few short weeks ago, but following Ferguson's suspension and subsequent injury, the 23-year-old has been thrust into the limelight.

"I've said to you on many occasions he would be a really good player for us," Smith remarked. "It was always going to be difficult for him coming in and he still needs to gain experience. He's only had one full season in the MLS and when we brought him along I thought he would be in and out of the team for the whole of this season to allow him to develop and settle-in. As it has happened, he's been a regular for the last few games and he has shown that he's enjoying it."

As for himself, Smith claimed he is relishing the pressure which comes with being in front. With three games to go, two away from home, his knowledge and strength of purpose is invaluable.

"Rangers managers always work in this environment," he said, with reference to the pressure. "If you're Rangers manager for the first time then you might find it strange but it is obviously not the case for me. I know all about the expectation. When I arrived (at the start of his second spell in 2007] we were third in the league and for a Rangers team, that was not acceptable.

"We had no chance that year but I felt we did extremely well last season and without being biased, I think the fixture pile-up had a huge influence on how we did," he added.

"It has not been an easy season for me but it has not been easy for the players, either. It is a credit to them how they have approached things. We lost two regular players and a lot of the lads have been asked to come in who hadn't played as often – or even for most of the season – and they've adapted to it."

HOW THEY RATED AT IBROX

RANGERS

Neil Alexander 6 out of 10
Neat and tidy throughout.

Christian Dailly 5
Got forward in first half but pegged back as Celtic dominated the second.

Madjid Bougherra 8
Proved crucial to the Rangers cause.

David Weir 7
Benefited from Bougherra's return

Steven Whittaker 6
Constant menace from full-back in the first half and cross hit the post

Steven Davis 8
Matchwinner in every sense, scoring and clearing Celtic chance off the line.

Pedro Mendes 6
Won the midfield battle in first half.

Maurice Edu 6
Also dominated midfield in first half.

Steven Smith 4
Yellow carded for upending Hinkel.

Kris Boyd 5
Missed chances to end derby drought.

Kenny Miller 7
Justified recall, hassling the Celtic defence and setting up goal

Substitutes

Lee McCulloch (for Boyd 85) 3
Kyle Lafferty (for Smith 69) 3

CELTIC

Artur Boruc 6
Helpless with the winning goal.

Andreas Hinkel 6
Beaten in the box by Miller for Rangers' goal but a constant threat.

Glenn Loovens 6
Lucky to escape action after catching Edu with his studs.

Gary Caldwell 7
A fine performance with a number of key interventions. Booked late on.

Darren O'Dea 4
Struggled badly, and slip almost gifted Rangers a second goal

Shunsuke Nakamura 6
By far Celtic's best midfielder

Paul Hartley 5
Booked in the second minute for a late tackle on Miller.

Marc Crosas 4
Repeatedly gave the ball away

Shaun Maloney 4
Failed to justify surprise selection.

Jan Vennegoor Of Hesselink 6
Came closest to scoring for Celtic, with one header cleared off the line

Scott McDonald 6
Worked tirelessly as always.

Substitutes

Lee Naylor (for O'Dea 81) 3.
Georgios Samaras 3.
Aiden McGeady (for Maloney 62)

Had a great chance to equalise but blasted narrowly wide. Cameo suggested he should have started. 6.