Smith hoping Miller’s goals will help him win over fans
The former Celtic striker’s return to the Govan club for the second time in the summer from Derby was met by disapproval among a large section of the Rangers support who have booed him continually this season.
Miller’s first goal for the Bhoys was against Rangers in 2006 and the irony was clear when his double against the Clydesdale Bank Premier League champions helped take the Light Blues top of the table.
After Daniel Cousin put the visitors ahead with a fine solo strike, Georgios Samaras had pounced to take the teams in to the interval level.
But former Parkhead player Miller scored either side of a Pedro Mendes strike before Shunsuke Nakamura fired in an injury time consolation.
To add to the drama of a remarkable afternoon, both sides ended up with 10 men after Cousin and Celtic substitute Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink were sent packing.
But it was Miller’s goals which were the focus of attention after the match.
Smith, who joked that, “he (Miller) wasn’t under as much pressure as me,” is confident the Scotland striker’s double has at last made peace with the Ibrox supporters.
“If it doesn’t then I don’t know what he would need to do,” the Rangers boss exclaimed. “It’s over with, he’s got his goals and hopefully he can continue to get some more.”
Cousin’s sending off for two yellow cards, the second after clashing with Celtic skipper Stephen McManus, was played down by Smith.
He said: “Centre halves and centre forwards used to clash regularly and I don’t think there was any animosity between the players.’’
“It was disappointing from our point of view because we were considering taking him off because of that situation but he was doing so well.
“But it was a good performance and that was the main thing.’’
Meanwhile Celtic boss Gordon Strachan confirmed he would speak with goalkeeper Artur Boruc after the Poland international gifted Rangers two goals.
Boruc was at fault for Cousin’s opener when he was beaten at his near post, and for Kenny Miller’s second when he fumbled Kirk Broadfoot’s cross to gift the former Bhoys striker a goal.
Boruc was axed from the Poland squad last week by national coach Leo Beenhakker along with international teammates Dariusz Dudka and Radoslaw Majewski after allegations of late-night misbehaviour in the aftermath of a recent friendly against Ukraine.
The trio are banned for two matches, next month’s World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia and San Marino.
Boruc then woke up before the first Old Firm game of the season to see a report about his private life in one newspaper. Strachan alluded to the goals Boruc sloppily conceded as “bizarre”, but would only say: “I will speak to Artur, see how he feels and we will analyse it from there.”
Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Wilson (Hutchinson 84), Nakamura, Hartley (Robson 72), Scott Brown, McGeady, Maloney, Samaras (Vennegoor of Hesselink 72).
McGregor, Broadfoot, Weir, Bougherra, Papac, Davis, Pedro Mendes, Thomson, Adam (Novo 78), Cousin, Miller.
Ref: D McDonald
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