Lack of goals worries Rangers manager

RANGERS manager Walter Smith admits their goal drought is a concern with a crucial Old Firm derby looming tomorrow.

The champions have been held to goalless draws in their last three league encounters against Motherwell, Kilmarnock and Aberdeen.

Those results mean Celtic are now in a position to open up a seven-point lead at the summit of the SPL if they win at Ibrox.

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.”

The Rangers boss was also unhappy with the defence on Tuesday, but believes European results – Celtic drew 1-1 with Rapid Vienna in the Europa League – will have little bearing.

He said: “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 moment, it’s a very important one.”