Strachan on the defensive

GORDON Strachan was speaking a language his club's followers just wouldn't understand. His players, he said, had been "excellent", they'd been "brave", he was "proud" of them. When Rangers scored what turned out to be the match-winning goal Strachan argued that his boys "were in control of the game" at the time. The rest of the match, he stressed, was "all good". Celtic "did enough to win" in his opinion. If only they'd scored the g

Hell of an 'if', that one. A monster. It's the biggest 'if' of the season, possibly the biggest of the Strachan era. You have to allow for mind games here, you have to understand that Strachan can't allow himself to get down in the dumps about this defeat, not at this stage of the season, not with just three games to go and the race still alive, if suddenly looking a lot more daunting now than it did yesterday morning. He has to be positive. But we have to be truthful. Celtic didn't control anything. Their players tried their hearts out but were beaten by a better side. And, privately, Strachan should have regrets about it all.

He defended his bizarre decision to go with Shaun Maloney, pictured, from the start instead of Aiden McGeady. Well, defended was maybe not the right word. He Strachanised it. Spoke about it without explaining it in the way only he does. "I'm not here to explain every decision I make," he said. "I left Lee Naylor out today and Darren O'Dea played. I don't have to explain it. It's not right to do that. If I had to explain every decision then I'd have to explain why I left Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink out of the League Cup final, why I left Shunsuke Nakamura out against Hearts, why I left Scott McDonald out earlier in the season. What you see from the references I've given is that it's happened before with everybody."

Maloney hadn't begun an SPL game in six months. His ability to slot straight into a match of this intensity was always dubious. Strachan took a wild gamble and it failed. Why he felt the need to was anybody's guess. Certainly, the reasons will have come as a mystery to McGeady who was being instructed to keep his chin up by Neil Lennon in the pre-match warm-up. Easier said than done. The words 'transfer' and 'now' may have been splattered about the McGeady household last night.

Strachan says his team will win their next three games. The problem for him is even that may not be enough. "I can see us winning the three. I have every faith in them. We have to accept where we are. It's a challenge. That's what we've got. We got it last year and we've got it again."

His counterpart was keeping it real, meanwhile. Selection issues were key yesterday. Strachan got it wrong and Smith got it right. The Rangers manager left Andrius Velicka on the bench despite the Lithuanian having scored four goals in his previous four games. He opted instead for Kenny Miller who performed excellently, contributing hugely to the winning goal. Smith felt his team needed Miller's pace and, in the end, his pace proved critical.

"We have to show the ability to go on and win the title now," he said. "We're on a really good run and I'm really pleased with the way some of the boys are playing. A slip-up is always a possibility but I'm happy with the way things are going especially since we've been hit by injury and suspension. The attitude is excellent. Steven Davis in a way typifies the team with his work ethic and in the way he contributed at both ends of the field."

Smith paid tribute to Maurice Edu, who made his Old Firm debut yesterday. He got clattered in the tackle more than once, Glenn Loovens nailing him before the break. "That's a nice memory for him," said Smith, somewhat sarcastically. "He has bits to learn. We've thrown him in at the deep end. I thought he was only going to play a bit-part this season but he's been asked to play regularly and he's played really well."

He's an unlikely hero of Rangers' season. But when was Old Firm football ever predictable?

HOW THEY RATED

RANGERS

NEIL ALEXANDER
Impeccable handling and a couple of smart saves. 8

CHRISTIAN DAILLY
A pair of clumsy challenges but fared well against Maloney and McGeady. 6

STEVEN WHITTAKER
Wicked cross smacked the post. Foraged forward and defended well. 7

DAVID WEIR
Dominated aerial duels and subdued McDonald with experienced display. 7

MADJID BOUGHERRA
Another impressive performance. Good in the air, strong tackling and composed. 8

STEVEN DAVIS
Got the all-important strike and made a vital goal-line clearance on 45mins. 8

STEVEN SMITH
Passing and crossing was poor and was booked for crude tackle on 39mins. 5

MAURICE EDU
Growing in stature. Protected defence and was strong in possession. 8

PEDRO MENDES
Always willing to take the ball and probed away at Celtic backline. 7

KENNY MILLER
Constant pest. Great cut-back for goal and always kept Celtic on their toes. 8

KRIS BOYD
Involved in build-up to Davis' goal but missed one-on-one chance on 60mins. 6

KYLE LAFFERTY
Replaced Smith on 69mins. Booked. 4

LEE MCCULLOCH
On for Boyd after 85mins. Little time. 3

CELTIC

ARTUR BORUC
Little chance with goal. Fine block from Boyd. 7

ANDREAS HINKEL
Always willing to support Nakamura. 6

DARREN O'DEA
Quiet game, did little wrong though. 6

GLENN LOOVENS
Lucky not to be punished for kick at Edu. Never looked particularly commanding. 5

GARY CALDWELL
Couple of last ditch tackles and good headers. Pick of Celtic defenders. 7

SHUNSUKE NAKAMURA
Saw ball a lot but crosses were erratic. Most creative Celtic player, however. 7

SHAUN MALONEY
Worked hard but few good crosses. Failed to track Davis for the opener. 5

MARC CROSAS
Game passed him by. Passes didn't cut Rangers open. Skied good chance. 5

PAUL HARTLEY
Booked after two minutes. Sloppy passes and never controlled the game. 5

JAN VENNEGOOR OF HESSELINK
Two headers blocked by Alexander and Davis. Nuisance from set pieces. 6

SCOTT McDONALD
Buzzed around but touch let him down. 6

AIDEN McGEADY
On for Maloney. Shot wide late on. 4

GIORGIOS SAMARAS
Replaced Vennegoor of Hesselink. 3

LEE NAYLOR
Late cameo in place of O'Dea. 3