SMITH: SPL GIVE US THE BLUES

The SPL season has been extended by four days to allow Rangers to get through a heavily-congested fixture list which will see them play four times in eight days after the UEFA Cup final, but the former Scotland boss claimed that did not help his side at all.

Smith alluded to Celtic having a game against Dundee brought forward to allow them a week’s preparation ahead of their UEFA Cup final against Porto in Seville five years ago.

The Rangers boss, who watched his side drop two SPL points in a goalless game against Hibernian at Easter Road, said: “The Russian FA made their intentions clear right from the start but we’ve had a couple of days since we reached the final and we’ve not heard from anyone.

“The SPL were very quick to put precedents down when they asked us to play four games in a week and there have been other precedents for teams who have faced finals and been given a little bit of dispensation.

“But the SPL made it perfectly clear that there was no willingness on anybody’s part to give us some leeway.

“The extension they put in place was because it was physically impossible for us to fit the games in, they weren’t doing anyone a favour.”

Rangers keeper Neil Alexander will try and dismiss the advantage the Russian side have ahead of their meeting in Manchester.

He said: “I wouldn’t say I was angry, I would say I was more disappointed that they are getting to prepare for a major, major cup final in the right way while we are struggling to get two days off in a row.

“It is tough but we are in a fantastic situation to be involved in and we are all looking forward to it.

“It would be great if the situation was different but we know that so we will go in focused for every game.”

The Ibrox side have five league games left in comparison to Celtic’s two and with a seven-point gap separating the sides Smith admits there can be no more points dropped if his side are to take the championship away from Parkhead.

He said: “We can’t really afford any more slip-ups. Celtic have only two games left in two weeks and we had about 10 at the last count!

“We have two home games coming up so hopefully we can get up for those games ahead of the UEFA Cup final.”

Defender Carlos Cuellar’s booking against Hibs means he will miss the St Mirren game on May 19 and Chris Burke, who needs an ankle operation, is out for the rest of the season at least.

Smith said: “Cuellar’s suspension is a blow but injuries and suspensions will take its toll. Chris is out for the rest of the season and for the start of next season but Charlie Adam and Lee McCulloch could be back for next week.”

Both sides had taken time to settle, then Hibs midfielder Filipe Morais cut open the Ibrox defence in the third minute after receiving a Steven Fletcher pass.

However, Dean Shiels, darting through on goal with only Rangers keeper Neil Alexander to beat, was ruled offside although television evidence appeared to contradict the decision.

In the 15th minute, in the midst of a mostly midfield battle, Kevin McCann was robbed by Nacho Novo just outside the Hibs box but the Easter Road full-back recovered his mistake with a saving tackle as the Spaniard shaped to send in an angled shot.

In the 36th minute, following a Steven Davis corner, Hibs keeper Andrew McNeil made a fine save from Carlos Cuellar’s header which looked to be heading in to the bottom left hand corner.

Moments later, as the visitors stepped up their quest for the opener, Hibs stopper Rob Jones threw himself to block a Novo shot with his leg at the expense of yet another corner but the Easter Road side survived.

In the final minute, Shiels’ whipped-in cross from wide on the left was punched by Alexander on to the head of the in-coming Ross Campbell but the ball rebounded up over the bar.

An exciting end to the first half promised an improvement after the break and there was a sense of urgency from Rangers especially after the restart.

After latching on to a back-header by Cousin, Novo skinned McCann on the bye-line with some ease but his toe-poked cross was cut out at the front post by McNeil.

The Ibrox side kept pressing and in the 53rd minute Cousin had the ball in the net from close range after latching on to a Cuellar header but the flag went up for offside.

Moments later, Light Blues skipper Barry Ferguson had an angled-shot blocked by the knees of McNeil for a corner and again Hibs emerged unscathed.

The pressure mounted on the Easter Road goal. Kirk Broadfoot’s long throw-in from the right was flicked on by Cousin but the ball sped across the goalmouth with no Rangers player in sight.

In the 61st minute Hibs responded with a Morais shot from 25 yards which had Alexander scrambling to tip the ball over for a corner.

A note of desperation became apparent in the Ibrox side’s attacks and as they threw men forward, they left themselves susceptible to the counter-attack and Hibs looked more than capable of taking advantage.

In the 76th minute, as Rangers stepped up their bid for the opener, prolific striker Kris Boyd was thrown on for Papac but he struggled to get in to the game.

A Kevin Thomson free-kick from 25 yards sneaked past McNeil’s left-hand post and Cuellar headed a Christian Dailly free-kick over with the Hibs keeper in no-man’s land.

There were a few more escapes for the Easter Road side but Rangers trooped off knowing they had failed to take advantage of one of their games in hand.

The draw moved Hibs in to joint-fourth place with Dundee United and they still have a chance of a UEFA Cup place.

But boss Mixu Paatelainen insists his side were not aided by a tired Rangers side.

He said: “I didn’t think Rangers were any weaker than normal. The players had plenty of energy and confidence and they showed that.

“I think we have a good chance of finishing third. We have two matches left and if we win them both then we might be third, depending on other results obviously.”

HIBS: McNeil, McCann, Canning, Jones, Murray, Morais (O'Brien 84), Shiels, Chisholm, Rankin, Fletcher, Campbell (Donaldson 75). Subs not used: Ma-Kalambay, Kerr, Benjelloun, Zarabi, Stevenson.

RANGERS: Alexander, Broadfoot, Cuellar, Weir, Papac (Boyd 77), Davis, Dailly, Ferguson, Thomson, Novo, Cousin (Darcheville 86). Subs not used: Smith, Shinnie, Lennon, Emslie, Loy.