Walter Smith feels Kris Boyd has been let down by some of his Rangers team-mates.
The experienced striker has scored only nine goals since he moved in the summer from Kilmarnock.
The last time he found the net was on November 30 against Killie in a Scottish Cup tie.
But Smith has sympathy for Boyd and feels not enough chances have been created for him.
He believes the striker is capable of making a telling contribution in today’s League Cup semi-final against Celtic.
The former Rangers boss stressed: “I think Kris Boyd’s situation has been symptomatic of how we should always look at what it takes to play at the Old Firm.
“There have been a whole load of players who have been good players for their teams, but they come to Rangers or Celtic and find it a very difficult environment to play in regardless of whether it is Third, Second or First Division.
“In Celtic’s case, they have had a lot of boys who have looked all right in their own teams, but struggled badly in the Old Firm environment. It takes a better level of player to play for Rangers and Celtic.”
Smith used one of his predecessors, Scot Symon, as an example.
He pointed out: “Mr Symon used to say: ‘Son, you have proved you can play football but can you play for Rangers?
“It is the same for Celtic. It is difficult until you actually see it and experience it.
“If I look at Kris Boyd, I think Rangers struggle a wee bit in terms of creation of opportunity. I think that has been one of their biggest things. Forwards suffer a bit, particularly Boydy.
“Now he goes to play at Kilmarnock and every game is open, all the teams go and play Kilmarnock. But all the Championship teams don’t come and play against Rangers. They defend. Now, that is not a criticism, it is a fact.
“When I was manager, most teams in the Premier League came and did that. But when he was scoring 30 goals a season, he had people who could create goals for him. That is what we had.
“That is Rangers’ biggest problem at the present moment they are not creating enough opportunities.
“This season they have done well against the bigger teams, they are three out of three. But the Premier teams have played them. The Championship teams don’t play them, and they are struggling to create in that environment.
“The coaches at other clubs are not daft. Watching the lower-division teams, the coaches of the lower-division teams do a good job in Scotland. They have a poorer standard of player to operate with, but they make sure they go about their game in the right way.”
Ronny Deila’s side are heavy favourites today, but Smith isn’t ruling out a shock result.
He said: “I don’t think you can write Rangers off. Looking back, there has been no other Old Firm match in my time where one team has been such overwhelming favourites to win a game.
“But I think everyone might find it is a little tighter than everybody thinks.
“You can never rule anything out in an Old Firm game.”
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