Archie Knox tells Rangers to embrace Walter Smith mantra in Celtic crunch as Beale handed mindset instructions

It was Walter Smith’s motto. And no one heard it drummed out more often than his right-hand man, Archie Knox.

‘There’s no secret to being a successful Rangers manager – you just have to find a way to win.” The great man’s theory may sound simplistic, especially in these modern times of powerpoint presentations, defensive transitions and sports science. But even so, those very words were ringing in the ears of Smith’s old pal yesterday as the clock raced down towards a lunchtime showdown at Parkhead which is likely to determine the outcome of another league campaign.

One way or the other. And Knox believes they’ve never resonated as loudly as they do right now - at a moment in time when current boss Michael Beale’s Ibrox career may hinge upon upholding Smith’s message. Speaking exclusively to Record Sport yesterday, the man who helped Smith lead the club to nine successive top-flight titles said: “I’m sure Michael will have realised already these games are going to determine everything from this point forward. Back in our day you had Aberdeen and Dundee United for a wee while and Hearts and Hibs would be there or there abouts. But, for the foreseeable future, it’s going to be Rangers and Celtic.

“If you want to win the title in these circumstances, then these are the games you have to win, 100 per cent. If you get them in the cup then you have to beat them in that as well.

“Michael will be aware of that. But actually doing it is a different kettle of fish. First, he has to convince his players that they are good enough.”

That might take some doing, given Rangers have only won six times at the home of their city rivals since the turn of the century – with Smith responsible for three of them during his second stint at