Rangers win 5-0 in first game under Smith
Settlement reached with SFA
New Rangers manager Walter Smith began his second spell at the club with an emphatic 5-0 home win over Dundee United yesterday in the Scottish Premier League.
Charlie Adam lobbed a spectacular 40-metre opener on 23 minutes after United goalkeeper Derek Stillie raced out of his box to slide the ball away from Kris Boyd only for his clearance to land at the feet of the Rangers midfielder.
Chris Burke headed home an easy second in 36 minutes from three metres and Boyd rammed in the third from seven metres following a good run and low cross from Spanish forward Nacho Novo.
Boyd made it 4-0 with a close-range header from Adam's cross and captain Barry Ferguson rounded Stillie to slot home the fifth in 88 minutes for Rangers' biggest win of the season.
Rangers reduced the gap at the top of the SPL to 14 points, but leaders Celtic, with 56 points from 23 games, play at Hearts today.
Third-placed Aberdeen drew 1-1 at home to Inverness Caledonian Thistle yesterday and have 39 points.
Meanwhile, Smith said the club and the Scottish FA had resolved their differences over his decision to quit the national job.
The SFA threatened to sue Smith for breach of contract and Rangers for inducing him to leave as Scotland manager after he moved to Ibrox on Wednesday. A formal announcement of an agreement is now expected from the two sides tomorrow.
Anticipating a deal to avoid a legal battle, Smith told reporters: "That was a regretful aspect of the past few days.
"I am glad now that is over with and I think it allows each of us to get on and do what we want to do.
"At the end of the day, it is a business thing more than anything else and I don't think it was particularly personal.
"But it was obviously a situation that from my own side I would have liked to have avoided."