Smith: Victory all that counts March 22 2008
Walter Smith admits points are more important than performances as Rangers head towards the business end of the season still in the hunt for three more trophies.
The Scottish Premier League game against Hibernian at Ibrox may not have been pretty to watch at times but goals from Jean-Claude Darcheville and Nacho Novo secured a 2-1 win to remain in pole position in the title race.
Now six points clear at the top of the table, the pressure is all on Celtic ahead of their SPL clash against Gretna. Then comes a pivotal match in the campaign when both teams meet in the second Old Firm derby of the season.
The victory over Hibs marked the Gers' 50th game of what is proving to be a gruelling campaign and Smith hopes his players still have plenty left in the tank to finish the season in style.
He said: "It was an afternoon where we got the win we were looking for more than anything else. We had to work very hard for that.
"From now until the end of the season that's going to be the most important thing. There were spells when the game was scrappy and there were spells where there were patches of good football.
"We were just delighted to get the win and I felt we had two good finishes to secure that win. There is going to be an element of tiredness but we have to overcome that.
"It's something that's going to be there until the end of the season. There is a great desire within our group to go and win and I would hope they continue that until the end of the season.
"It might be like today's game, where there were patches of scrappy play, but, overall, we can only ask them to continue winning and they are doing that."
Novo wrapped up the points late on after Darcheville had claimed the Govan club's 100th goal of the season.
"I didn't know that actually but it's a pleasing statistic considering we don't play any forwards," said Smith dryly, making reference to criticism of his system of playing with one striker.
"Both of them had good finishes today and I was delighted for them to get the goals."
Up to 10 players will be involved in international duty next week with several of those set to take part in George Burley's debut as Scotland manager when they face Croatia at Hampden on Wednesday.
"You always have a concern injury-wise," admitted Smith. "I don't bother so much about the number of games we have, it's the number of injuries we are liable to get that can spoil it.
"So far we have been quite fortunate and we are managing to handle it. With an international game, we just hope that those who play don't come to an harm."
Dean Shiels ensured a tense finale to the game when he came off the bench to pull a goal back for Hibs with two minutes to go but boss Mixu Paatelainen had no complaints about returning to Edinburgh empty-handed.
"We must play much better than that," he said. "People talk about Rangers players being tired but their midfield beat us to every ball.
"They wanted to be first to every ball, they were hungrier to get on the ball and make it happen, and that's why they won the game.
"We lost terrible goals today and it wasn't our best performance defensively, that's for sure. There is no point working on tactical things during the week if the concentration isn't there."
The defeat cost Hibs the opportunity to reclaim third spot after Dundee United's win over Motherwell earlier in the day.
"It won't be plain-sailing," said Paatelainen. "Come May 18, whoever is third will get the bronze medal.
"We want to win every game we participate in, whether it is a cup game or a pre-season friendly, and this game was no different."