Walter Smith will today attempt to pick his players up following their Champions League exit ...

and challenge them to crank up the pressure on Celtic by going four points clear in the SPL with victory at Aberdeen on Saturday.

The Rangers boss knows the importance of bouncing right back from the defeat by Stuttgart, and understands that all eyes will be on his players’ reaction to the bitter disappointment.

But Smith also knows the Dons will be ready to expose any weakness in their character in the lunchtime kick-off and said: “We’ve managed to get back to the top of the league, and the important thing now is to make sure we hang onto that position.

“We still have a game in hand to come at Tannadice next month, which is going to be difficult. But we have a one-point advantage right now and want to maintain that.

“We go to Pittodrie, and that’s going to be difficult. Since I’ve come back to the club, we’ve not had a great deal of success there, so we’d hope for better fortune.

“We’ve a decent away record in the league this season, but we recognise it will be a big test for us up there.

“There’s a bit of an edge to the game and, hopefully, we can come out on top.”

Midfielder Kevin Thomson will be more eager than anyone in the Rangers camp to get all three points as he admits his record at Pittodrie is horrendous with just one win from eight visits.

That victory came back in his days with Hibs, and Thommo told the Rangers News: “It’s a bit frustrating that I’ve not done well there as I don’t like losing.

“So, to have struggled in the eight games I’ve played at Pittodrie has been tough.

“I just hope the manager doesn’t read to much into statistics because, if he does, I could find myself dropped.”