IF an indication of how intense the title race has become was needed, then the sight of Walter Smith ranting and raving on the touchline was all the proof required.

When the Rangers manager loses his cool, you know the pressure is at boiling point.

With his side trying to protect a one-goal lead over Motherwell at Ibrox, and the home crowd desperately awaiting referee Charlie Richmond's full-time whistle, the sight of four minutes' added time on the fourth official's board was just too much for him.

Not usually the most animated of managers, Smith let rip at the fourth official and the stand side linesman before being escorted back towards the dugout by assistant coach Kenny McDowall.

For someone who has been over the course many times before, the 60-year-old grandfather knows better than most just how crucial every three points his team secure could be come the end of the season.

So, when his team were forced to play four additional minutes in a game which looked unlikely to prove fruitful for them for large spells, Smith admitted he wasn't chuffed at his side being penalised for Motherwell's time-wasting.

"I felt that the four minutes were probably right," he explained. "But what frustrates you is sometimes when you score the goal it's the team that has not been wasting time who are penalised at the end of the game with the added on time.

"I've no criticism of Motherwell. We do the same at times away from home, but we had to play four additional minutes which was providing them with a chance to get back into the game when we hadn't wasted time."

Smith, though, had certainly calmed down by the time he had time to reflect on what was a massive result for his team.

And he is fully aware of just how important a victory it was when, up until Barry Ferguson broke the deadlock, it looked as though they might have dropped another two points in the championship race.

"That's the type of game we're going to get between now and the end of the season," he said. "Every team in the top six has something to play for and all the games will be tight.

"At this stage of the season that's to be expected. For the first time in two years the championship is being fought out and, for the first time that I can recall, the four teams below are all competing for a European place."

He went on: "The games are going to be tough. We just need to keep lifting ourselves. But that's the one thing I'll say about my team which makes me proud - they always lift themselves and keep going."

The man who stood up and was counted when his team needed him most was captain Ferguson. Playing through injury and clearly struggling in recent matches, he came up with an excellent finish to seal the victory.

And Smith was thrilled to see his on-field leader coming up with the goods and finishing the game strongly.

"Everyone is delighted to get the goal," he said. "At this stage of the season it's about winning and we've managed to do that.

"Barry has been playing with an injury now for quite a while, but once he gets going I don't think it restricts him greatly. Not many midfielders have played the amount of games he has this season, both for Rangers and for Scotland.

"But it was an excellent finish from him and an important goal given that it provided us with all three points."

Now Smith turns his attention to Dundee United on Saturday and he said: "Last night was an important game and it's the same on Saturday.

"We've got to keep going and continue to work hard. I expect another difficult match, just like our previous matches against Celtic, Hibs and Motherwell. There aren't going to be any easy games between now and the end of the season."