The home side dominated at Ibrox and won 2-0 thanks to strikes from Kris Boyd and Charlie Adam.

Aberdeen's faint hopes of claiming Scotland's second Champions League slot were extinguished by the outcome of the Old Firm clash, as Rangers achieved the target Smith set when he arrived in January.

"I think we deserved our win today. We played very well from start to finish of the game," Smith told Setanta 1.

"We played well for long spells in the game and I'm delighted for everyone here .

"We set a target to try to get ourselves into the situation where we'd be qualifying for the Champions League, which didn't look likely in the early part of the year, and we've had a great reaction from everyone here."

Smith added: "The most important thing about today's game for us was that we clinched that qualification."

However the Light Blues boss dismissed the theory that victory for Rangers - added to their win at Parkhead in March - means they should start as favourites for next year's title.

"Old Firm games stand on their own," he said.

"Both clubs will make changes in the close season.

"We've a lot to catch up on Celtic.

"We know we've got a lot to do in the close-season, but that doesn't detract from what the players here have achieved."

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan played down a flag-waving incident involving goalkeeper Artur Boruc which sparked fury and debate.

After the game, which passed off with little real trouble, Poland international Boruc ran to the other end of the pitch to where the Celtic fans were housed and took a flag bearing the words 'champions' from one of the supporters.

To the anger of the Ibrox fans, Boruc waved the flag as he left the field.

Asked if he was concerned about his goalkeeper's actions, Strachan said: "I've not been told about that.

"If anybody else is concerned then they can come and see me.

"I've no idea (if it was a provocative gesture). Maybe he was enjoying himself."

The Celtic boss refused to take the blame for the second SPL defeat in succession by their great rivals, the first time that has occurred since season 1999/2000.

He said: "I'm very disappointed and we can't have any arguments.

"We played testimonial football in the first half and they played winning football and their winning football deserved to win the game.

"It all comes down to how many headers and tackles you win and how well you pass the ball and I'm afraid all the plusses go to the other side.

"There were not a lot of positives.

"But whatever your line-up is, the players are the most important thing.

"I'm not suddenly going to take the blame for everything.

"I don't take the credit for every victory so I won't take the blame for every defeat. We do it together.

"I will look at my selection and analyse that and then the players can look at their performance.

"And together we can hopefully come up with something positive."

Rangers manager Walter Smith insists the most important aspect of the game was the Ibrox side clinching qualification for the Champions League next season.

Aberdeen's faint hopes were extinguished with today's result, and securing second place could be worth millions of pounds to Rangers, particularly if they repeat last season's achievement of reaching the knock-out stages in the UEFA tournament.

Smith said: "We started the game well and we finished the game well.

"It was a good win because it was important that we got second position and qualified for the Champions League.

"That was the pleasing part of the day."

Smith, however, admitted Boyd's goal gave him particular satisfaction.

The otherwise prolific striker had failed to score against Celtic in 15 previous attempts with both Kilmarnock and Rangers.

But Boyd's patience paid off when his left-footed volley in the 34th minute went under goalkeeper Boruc, who might have done better.

Adam made sure for Rangers with his 55th minute strike, but it was Boyd who had ended his jinx, to the Rangers manager's delight.

Smith said: "I was pleased for him because when you go the number of games that he has without scoring against a specific team then people keep bringing it up.

"It was a good goal at a good time of the game for us becauseI felt that the way both teams were set out, the first goal was always going to be important."

Smith remains surprised that he has extended his unbeaten run in the SPL to 13 games since he took over from Paul Le Guen in January.

He said: "I couldn't have imagined that, with the inconsistency we showed in the early part of the season.

"I said to the players after the game that they deserve a great deal of credit for the way they responded to what's been asked of them in the second half of the season.

"They may lack a lot of things but they certainly work really hard, which is why I am pleased they got Champions League qualification."