Walter Smith calls on Rangers players to avoid any more slip-ups

The Scottish champions squandered the opportunity to move top of the table for the first time since Boxing Day when they suffered a 3-2 defeat to Dundee United at the weekend.

Smith wants his side back on top form against St Johnstone tomorrow night but believes coming through the final ten games without dropping points will be a big ask for both Rangers and Celtic.

He said: "I think Hearts have had the longest run of wins this season and won something like eleven games.

"It can be done but either team is going to have to have a run of that level to go on and win a championship.

"When you are at the Old Firm, you've got to win every game anyway.

"We have lost one of the 11 games we had and we'll have to try and get through the rest of them unscathed.

"With only one team having managed to win 10 or 11 games this season, it will be a difficult task."

Reflecting on Saturday's defeat, Smith added: "I don't think we needed a timely warning or anything like that.

"I felt we handled the game on Saturday reasonably well and we played reasonably well.

"We just gave away goals a minute before the end of the first half and a minute before the end of the game which are poor times for an experienced team to be losing goals.

"There was maybe a little bit of slackness in our defensive situation that we have to adjust to. Overall, I felt there was some good football played by both teams."

Rangers will be able to take a full squad to Perth after Smith was able to name just five substitutes on the bench against United.

He said: "We had an unfortunate circumstance at the weekend when even our under-19 players who have been on the bench for us recently - Darren Cole, Kane Hemmings and Kal Naismith - were all injured as well and that left us rather short.

"Darren Cole and Kyle Lafferty are fit again so that will bring our squad up to the required number."