Smith seeks Rangers consistency

Smith has seen his side drop points in recent weeks

Manager Walter Smith has warned Rangers they face a stern task to end Celtic's run of three titles in a row.

"I think Celtic have a pride in their performance now and they've shown they can lose one or two players and still do well in games," said Smith.

"Celtic seem to have a consistency that we have struggled to match.

"They've shown us that they're not going to weaken and we realise that we must better last season's challenge if we are going to be champions."

Last term ended in disappointment for Smith and his players when Celtic retained the championship on the final day, having trailed Rangers for much of the campaign.

Rangers have now slipped four points behind their Old Firm rivals, following recent midweek draws against Dundee United and Motherwell.

"There is no doubt Celtic have been the most consistent team and we find ourselves trailing again," said Smith.

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Smith feels Gers still need to improve

"We know we have to make that up.

"It's not so much the gap; what you look at is the way your team has been playing and the results that you have achieved.

"I feel we have played well enough in the last few games but there has been inconsistency both in our defending and our finishing, which has led to us dropping points.

"That's what concerns us more than anything else at the moment.

"We lost a couple of bad goals against Dundee United that cost us a couple of points and we missed a few opportunities to win the game at Motherwell.

"That's what we have to look at more than anything else, rather than the gap."

We have to make sure we find more of a killer instinct at the end of our possession if we are going to make the challenge this season Walter Smith

On Saturday, Rangers have the chance to avenge October's surprise 1-0 defeat at Love Street as St Mirren visit Ibrox.

"I remember that one because of the amount of possession we had but it was a little lesson for the team because possession of the ball doesn't necessarily mean that you win the game and that's what happened," Smith continued.

"We had a huge amount of possession and no goals at the end of it. I thought we were going some way to rectifying that but in a couple of games since, that hasn't been the case.

"We have to make sure we find more of a killer instinct at the end of our possession if we are going to make the challenge this season."