02 April 2011 Smith Frustrated By Defeat

WALTER SMITH was disappointed to see his side twice throw away a lead to eventually lose 3-2 to Dundee United.

Presented with the opportunity to go top of the table Rangers couldn't take advantage as David Goodwillie's late strike took all three points to Tayside.

It was a sucker punch for Smith's side who had hit the bar at the other end moments earlier, but the Rangers boss admits he was disappointed by how his side defended.

He said: "It's obviously a disappointing result for us although there were different parts of the game where our performance wasn't too bad in terms of possession of the ball.

"Dundee Utd filled the midfield and were very tidy and played very well at times in the game. I thought it was a decent enough match.

"Where I'm disappointed though is that we got in front and then lost a bad goal in the last minute of the first half.

"We managed to get back in front and just when Dundee Utd were changing to have to push players forward we managed to lose another goal.

"That was disappointing because although Dundee Utd had good spells of possession they did that without having too many chances to score.

"If you look at the game really the only opportunities they had were the chances they did score from.

"From our point of view it was disappointing defensively, especially with the experience of our team.

"The problem for us is that on a couple of occasions this season we have got in front at home and been pegged back all too easily."

Smith recognised the missed chance to top the SPL table for the first time in 2011, but insists there will be more twists to come in the race for the title.

He added: "They will all be missed opportunities if you lose games. With ten games left I don't think either side is going to win all ten matches. Neither side has had that sort of run in the championship so far.

"From our own point of view we don't like to lose a game, but if people consider we'll win our next ten games then they're wrong, it won't happen like that.

"League titles never happen like that, so we have to look at today's game and see that what we have to do is adjust to the goals that we have lost having got in front, instead of having the toughness to handle that situation."

Smith however refused to blame a lack of players for the defeat to the Arabs. He named only five substitutes with David Healy and Kyle Lafferty added to the injury list.

But he insists the continued absence of defenders like Madjid Bougherra and Kirk Broadfoot leaving him short of numbers was not a factor.

He said: "The bench has nothing to do with today's result, that's just what we have. It's not a reason for the defeat."