Smith wants Rangers to rebound

Updated 15.46 Fri May 23 2008

Keywords: Dundee United, Rangers, Gordon Strachan, Celtic

Rangers manager Walter Smith wants his players to end the season on a high and win the Scottish Cup.

The Ibrox boss could not hide his disappointment after missing out on the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title to Celtic last night.

"We have a cup final and we would like to finish the season on a brighter note than we have done over the last week or so" - Walter Smith

While Rangers slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Aberdeen, Gordon Strachan's men completed a hat-trick of championships with a 1-0 win against Dundee United at Tannadice.

Smith now faces the task of lifting his dejected team ahead of tomorrow's showdown with First Division Queen of the South at Hampden Park.

He said: "We have a cup final and we would like to finish the season on a brighter note than we have done over the last week or so."

Goals from Lee Miller and Darren Mackie sealed last night's defeat for Rangers, before Nacho Novo was sent off for an over-the-top challenge on Stuart Duff.

Celtic's victory left them three points clear of arch-rivals Rangers. Dutch striker Vennegoor of Hesselink headed home from close range after 71 minutes from Paul Hartley's inviting corner to secure all three points for the champions.

The victory means Gordon Strachan has become the first Celtic manager since Jock Stein in 1974 to scoop three successive championships after his team finished on 89 points from 38 games with Rangers on 86.

Strachan said: "This has been one of the most fantastic occasions of my life with a bunch of guys that believed in me and I believed in them.

"We had a challenge and we accepted it and we got on with it without complaining and I really do believe that this is one of the most satisfying nights of my life."