Smith braced for Motherwell test

Rangers manager Walter Smith has told his players they will need to raise their game again when they face Motherwell at Ibrox.

The Scottish champions clinched their third consecutive Clydesdale Bank Premier League victory on Tuesday when they swept Dundee United aside in a 3-0 win at Tannadice. But Smith is mindful that Rangers only emerged with a point in their trip to Fir Park in September thanks to Allan McGregor's late penalty save.

"It was a period when we weren't playing well at all and we could easily have lost," Smith told Rangers News.

"We'd have no great complaints if that had happened. We've picked up since then and we'll need to do so again because Motherwell have shown throughout the season that they're doing well.

"They've had a huge turnover of staff in the close season but they're settling down now and are a very difficult team to overcome.

"Motherwell have a lot of good young players and they, along with the signings they brought in, have done well.

"I think they've adapted a lot quicker than other sides who have had so many new faces, and that's to their manager's credit.

"Jim Gannon has done a good job and we know we're going to have to be at our best to get a win."