Smith plays down significance of Brown absence

RANGERS manager Walter Smith does not believe the loss of Scott Brown will have too detrimental an effect on Celtic today.

The midfielder – named PFA Scotland player of the year last Sunday – is suspended for the final Old Firm derby of the season at Ibrox.

Smith can understand why the absence of Brown might be regarded as a major blow but claims the Scottish champions have demonstrated their ability to cope without key players in the past.