RANGERS may have performed a smash and grab to earn a last-gasp draw against Dundee United in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League - but boss Walter Smith believes his side deserved all three points.
Kevin Thomson's injury-time strike earned a share of the spoils when it looked like United would be returning to Tannadice with all three points.
Steven Davis opened the scoring before Francesco Sandaza helped himself to a double and Sasa Papac hauled Rangers back on level terms before half-time.
Scott Robertson's strike looked certain to be decisive only for Thomson to have the final say with a lovely solo effort.
Smith praised the never-say-die attitude of his players and insisted there was plenty of entertainment value for everyone at Ibrox.
"It was a good game," he said.
"From our own point of view we are a little bit disappointed with the defending, we gave away the goals a little too easily and had to work very hard to get ours.
"But there were a lot of pleasing things in our game especially in the second half. We created a lot of opportunities and maybe just deserved to edge the game with that second-half pressure.
"But give credit to United, I felt they played very well and they punished us for any errors we did make.
"In the end, we are pleased we managed to show a bit of determination and character in the end to come back and get a goal in injury-time to get the point.
"But we are a little bit disappointed overall because we maybe just deserved to edge what was a really good game."
A win would have allowed Rangers to move level on points with Celtic at the summit of the SPL.
And, when asked if his side could afford to drop any more points in the title race, Smith replied: "It depends on how the league goes. Tonight I wasn't unhappy with the way we played overall.
"I was a wee bit unhappy with the way we defended but I wasn't unhappy with the way we played, we played some good football.
"We created a number of opportunities against a team who are difficult to get goals against."
Dundee United manager Craig Levein possibly would have been happy with a draw before kick-off but insisted afterwards that a point was little consolation in the end.
"It feels like we lost 3-3 if that's possible," he said.
"I'm disappointed. That's my over-riding feeling at this moment in time.
"Things may change tomorrow when I have a chance to analyse the match and have a look at the performance. But we were winning the match with minutes to go so I feel disappointed.
"The players are frustrated, some are angry and others are just disappointed."
Levein admits his players are maybe still lacking a bit of confidence in themselves when they travel to venues like Ibrox.
He added: "I can't give the players belief in themselves just by telling them they are good players, they have to actually experience it.
"They are all gradually growing in confidence and they are all absolutely gutted that they didn't win this match.
"I can speak to them tomorrow and we can look at the positives from the game and look at things we can do better."
Steven Davis opened the scoring before Francesco Sandaza helped himself to a double and Sasa Papac hauled Rangers back on level terms before half-time.
Scott Robertson's strike looked certain to be decisive only for Thomson to have the final say with a lovely solo effort.
Smith praised the never-say-die attitude of his players and insisted there was plenty of entertainment value for everyone at Ibrox.
"It was a good game," he said.
"From our own point of view we are a little bit disappointed with the defending, we gave away the goals a little too easily and had to work very hard to get ours.
"But there were a lot of pleasing things in our game especially in the second half. We created a lot of opportunities and maybe just deserved to edge the game with that second-half pressure.
"But give credit to United, I felt they played very well and they punished us for any errors we did make.
"In the end, we are pleased we managed to show a bit of determination and character in the end to come back and get a goal in injury-time to get the point.
"But we are a little bit disappointed overall because we maybe just deserved to edge what was a really good game."
A win would have allowed Rangers to move level on points with Celtic at the summit of the SPL.
And, when asked if his side could afford to drop any more points in the title race, Smith replied: "It depends on how the league goes. Tonight I wasn't unhappy with the way we played overall.
"I was a wee bit unhappy with the way we defended but I wasn't unhappy with the way we played, we played some good football.
"We created a number of opportunities against a team who are difficult to get goals against."
Dundee United manager Craig Levein possibly would have been happy with a draw before kick-off but insisted afterwards that a point was little consolation in the end.
"It feels like we lost 3-3 if that's possible," he said.
"I'm disappointed. That's my over-riding feeling at this moment in time.
"Things may change tomorrow when I have a chance to analyse the match and have a look at the performance. But we were winning the match with minutes to go so I feel disappointed.
"The players are frustrated, some are angry and others are just disappointed."
Levein admits his players are maybe still lacking a bit of confidence in themselves when they travel to venues like Ibrox.
He added: "I can't give the players belief in themselves just by telling them they are good players, they have to actually experience it.
"They are all gradually growing in confidence and they are all absolutely gutted that they didn't win this match.
"I can speak to them tomorrow and we can look at the positives from the game and look at things we can do better."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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