Smith hails battling Rangers

Walter Smith praised the spirit of his Rangers side after they belied their underdogs billing to clinch the Scottish League Cup with a 2-1 extra-time win over Celtic at Hampden.

Celtic had been heavy favourites for the trophy after three recent Old Firm wins, however, it was Walter Smith, in his final appearance at the national stadium before he retires in summer, who lifted the cup as Rangers clinched the first silverware of the season.

Rangers had tasted defeat twice in the league and had been knocked out the Scottish Cup by their Glasgow rivals in the lead-up to the final and Smith said it had taken an exceptional performance from his players to win the competition for the 27th time.

“I’ve said on many occasions we’ve got a really good group of players here,” he said.

“I think it was strange for them to find themselves in a position where they were more or less written off for the game so it was a nice little challenge for them and they accepted it very well.”

After the off-field antics in the last Old Firm league fixture the fireworks were kept to the pitch as Steven Davies gave Rangers the lead in the 24th minute before Joe Ledley headed the Hoops level seven minutes later.

However, after a goalless second-half, Croatian striker Nikica Jelavic popped up to slot the ball in off both posts eight minutes into extra-time before Celtic had Emilio Izaguirre sent off in the final minute for a foul on substitute Vladimir Weiss.

Smith will walk away from Ibrox at the end of the season as his second spell at the club comes to an end.

After a trophyless season in the final campaign of his last tenure, he admitted it was good to sign off with a trophy and says it could give his side a psychological boost as both sides of the Old Firm challenge for the Scottish Premier League title.

“It is a nice one because from my point of view the last time when I was leaving we didn’t win anything in my last season.

“We have managed to win something this season so that’s a pleasing aspect of it from a personal point of view,” Smith said.