Goram sees similarities to Smith in Warburton

Former Rangers keeper Andy Goram sees shades of Walter Smith in the make-up of current Ibrox boss Mark Warburton.

Goram was a key player under Smith between 1991 and 1998 when a hugely successful spell for the Govan club brought, among other honours, nine successive title wins.

Celtic have been the top team in Scotland in recent seasons as Rangers have fought their way back from the bottom tier of Scottish football, where they emerged in 2012 after the club’s financial meltdown.

But Warburton’s side outplayed Premiership leaders Celtic for most of the 120 minutes of Sunday’s William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final clash, which ended in a 2-2 draw after which Gers fans celebrated a penalty shoot-out win.

Goram, speaking at the John Hartson Foundation charity golf day at Mar Hall yesterday, said: “Warburton’s a clever man. The players he brought in, like Wes Foderingham, Martyn Waghorn and Jason Holt, they have all started in a great way. He reminds me so much of the gaffer, Walter Smith.

“The way he talks, the way he comes across, the way he goes about his job, his respect and pride for the club, he is very similar to the gaffer.

“There was a massive gap last season. (Celtic skipper) Scott Brown just wiped the floor with the likes of Ian Black.

“It was a sore one. They could have taken five or six off us, we got away with it last year actually. But Sunday has laid down a marker. We are not the finished article by any means – I think everyone understands that.

“Warburton is going to bring three or four players in so we are not the finished article but everyone realises we are a real challenge now.”

Andy Goram was on hand at John Hartson’s charity golf day yesterday.