Interim Rangers boss Stevie Smith admitted his frustration after watching his side throw away a dominant position to draw 2–2 with Dundee United at Ibrox, describing the collapse as “disappointing” and a reflection of recurring problems this season.
Smith, taking charge for the first time since stepping up from the U19s following Russell Martin’s dismissal after a draw away to Falkirk in Rangers previous fixture before the international break, saw his team dominate the first half but lose control after the interval as defensive lapses and a lack of composure allowed United back into the match.
“It’s quite difficult to sum up,” Smith said post-match. “We played at a good level in the first half, with real intensity. I was probably frustrated at half-time that we weren’t more than one goal up.
“Then the game changed in the second half, and we didn’t change with it. To go from that level to being lucky to get a point is really frustrating.”
When asked about Rangers’ ongoing tendency to fade after half-time, Smith acknowledged that the issue has been a long-term one: “I’ve only had four or five training sessions with the group, so it’s difficult,” he said. “It’s not my job to go in and rant and rave after the game. I can only give them advice from my own tough moments here.
“When the game changes, players tend to go back to their default mode, and that default has to be built on standards every single day in training. When tough moments come, you rely on those habits.”
Smith insisted there were positives in the performance, particularly in the first half, but stressed that any new manager, widely expected to be Kevin Muscat, will need to find consistency across 90 minutes. He said: “There were good individual performances and some good football.
“But the game doesn’t last 45 minutes. Any potential new manager watching will know there’s talent in the group, it’s just about finding that consistency for a full game. Then results will change.”
The former Rangers left back, who played more than 100 games across two spells at Ibrox, and won a clean sweep of domestic honours, was asked about the players’ mentality and mood in the dressing room after full-time: “Of course they’re hurting, and they should be,” he replied. “If you don’t win here, that’s the feeling you must have.
“You can’t walk away saying it was a positive first 45 minutes, because we all know that’s not good enough. You’d rather play terribly for 90 minutes and win. They’re in a tough moment, but the only way out of it is to stick together.”
Smith said he had anticipated Dundee United raising their aggression in the second half and felt Rangers didn’t respond well enough to the shift in intensity. He said: “With experience, you can sense it. I thought United would change their aggression, and they did. We put so much energy into the first half that when the tempo dipped and theirs went up, it was hard to regain momentum.
“That’s when real character needs to come out… and you’ve got to stick together.”
Pressed on whether the uncertainty around the managerial situation was affecting performances, Smith was clear that players must take responsibility regardless of who is in charge: “My focus was entirely on Dundee United,” he said. “It shouldn’t matter who the manager is. As a group of players, you need to be leaders of men and find a way to turn results no matter who’s standing in the dugout.”
Smith also reiterated that his focus remained on the job at hand rather than speculation about his future: “I’ve gone day by day,” he said. “I haven’t thought beyond Dundee United because that would have been disrespectful. I knew they were a good side, so the preparation had to be right. Anything else, manager talk, future games, couldn’t be in my thoughts.”
Despite the frustration, Smith insisted that improvement can come quickly under the incoming boss: “I do think it can turn,” he said. “People might say that’s optimistic, but I’ve seen enough in the first half and in training to believe it.
“There are good players here. But time is running out, it has to be now. I thought that might have been today, but it wasn’t to be.”
Asked if the squad lacked leadership, Smith defended the players but again stressed the need for consistent standards: “There are leaders in there, but you can’t just lead on matchdays. To be successful here, standards have to be there every single day, every time you step on the training pitch.
“When tough moments come, that’s when you see what a real team is.”