Smith: It will be difficult in Perth

Walter Smith has urged Rangers to make amends for their defeat against Dundee United when they take on St Johnstone in tonight's SPL clash.

The Scottish champions twice surrendered the lead at Ibrox on Saturday before eventually losing 3-2 thanks to a last-minute David Goodwillie winner.

Smith is now seeking an improvement when Rangers travel to Perth, as they bid to quickly recover from the weekend disappointment.

"We had an opportunity to go top at the weekend and we slipped up," he said.

"We've got nobody to blame for that other than ourselves. We need to get back to winning, whether it means we go top of the league or not.

"We were disappointed to lose on Saturday. It was our third home defeat this season and one we know we have to make up for.

"It's a difficult task up at Perth. We lost quite heavily the last time we were up there and we need to improve in terms of not giving away goals as easily as we did at the weekend."

Asked if the meeting with Saints was the ideal opportunity to get over the United result, skipper David Weir said: "I don't know about getting over it. We are disappointed and we've got to learn from it.

"You get defeats in football but you've got to come back stronger and better and that's what we will try to do."

As for the 6.00pm kick-off time tonight, the defender added: "I've got no problem whether it's 6.00pm, 3.00pm, 7.30pm. You turn up and play the game - it doesn't matter what time of day it is. I can understand the reason for it - I would quite like to see the Champions League games myself.

"It doesn't change anything for us, to be honest."