WALTER SMITH today warned his players that they have no margin for error in the SPL title race after points were left behind again at Easter Road yesterday.

The Ibrox side - with just two wins in their last 10 games - have dropped 10 points in the last four league matches and remain seven adrift of leaders Celtic with three games in hand.

Assuming the champions win their last two matches of the season, Rangers will need to win their five remaining fixtures after a damaging goal-less draw in the capital against Hibs.

Smith believes they can do that - even against the backdrop of severe fixture congestion - but is well aware that every match is now must-win.

"We have seven games left, five in the SPL and two cup finals, and we know what we need to do," said the Rangers manager.

"We obviously can't afford any more slips-ups. Celtic have two games left in over two weeks, we had 10 at the last count!

"So we know we have to go and win the games that we have left, starting with the two home matches we have this week against Motherwell and Dundee United.

"I would hope that these two games at Ibrox would give us an opportunity to get back on track.

"To be honest, I expected a pressure situation with the number of games we have. It was always going to be extremely difficult for us to go and win every one.

"But it is still in our own hands. Most of the teams only have two games left, so every game is hard and we are facing teams going for this Uefa Cup spot."

Rangers beat Celtic on March 29 at Ibrox to move seven points clear, and most people said the title was over - Smith apart.

He always feared things would catch up with his team, and again reiterated: "Everyone said it was over, apart from us.

"We never imagined we would go to Celtic Park and stroll through a couple of games and then stroll to a title.

"We knew it would be awkward because of the games we have to fit in. So we need to go and win five games now, and that is what we will look to do - the boys know the situation they are in."

Victory at Easter Road would have allowed Smith to keep hold of one get-out-of- jail card but, assessing the game, Rangers never looked as though they were in control of events.

There was a look of tiredness in the first period, although that did disappear after the break when there was more purpose with skipper Barry Ferguson and Carlos Cuellar missing good chances.

Smith commented: "I felt that both teams were a bit slow to start the game, and it was fairly even.

"But we were far better in the second period and I felt were the stronger side.

"We created one or two half-chances that we might have done better with, but in the end we never managed to get the goal that we were looking for, and that was a disappointing aspect.

"Overall it was a tight game, but we didn't have that vital spark that was necessary to get the win."

Smith refused to use the exertions in Italy on Thursday night as an excuse, his players getting to their beds at 6am after booking a place in the Uefa Cup Final at Fiorentina's expense.

He does sense some mental fatigue, but believes that the fact they finished the game stronger than Hibs suggest there is no problem with legs.

"We played a big game on Thursday and had extra-time to deal with as well, and that contributed as an obvious factor to the slow start for me," he said.

"I don't think it's a physical thing, more of a little bit of a mental thing. A lot of our boys are experiencing this for the first time, as I am myself.

"There are adjustments to be made and they know they will have to apply themselves better than they did yesterday.

"But we did finish well. You could point to tiredness if we were getting over-run. But we looked the stronger team."

Smith hopes to have more options in terms of personnel for the final two home games of the season, Rangers back at Ibrox on SPL duty for the first time since that March Old Firm win this Wednesday night.

"Charlie Adam is just about back, and we would hope Lee McCulloch would not be too far away either.

"In terms of DaMarcus Beasley, it's a hard call as he's been out for a while."