Rangers boss Walter Smith admits the controversial £7.8m sale of Carlos Cuellar to Aston Villa has actually benefited the team. "We have a situation there where, not through our own choosing, Carlos leaving gave us a level of money to improve the team in one or two areas," he said.

"That's helped us, but it was not through choice. We have shown improvement in our overall football aspect, we just have to make sure that when we go to places like Love Street we can still produce that.

"The new boys have come in and - Davis aside because he had already played with us and has played extremely well since he came back - Mendes and Bougherra have started really well."