WALTER SMITH must hope the critics keep putting the boot into his Rangers players in the coming weeks and months.

It has clearly brought out the best in a group which has now gone eight games undefeated since the costly loss to FBK Kaunas.

Certainly, Kenny Miller and Kirk Broadfoot, who have been under more scrutiny than most, appear to flourish when they come in for flak.

Miller, in particular, has had a tough time of it since moving to Ibrox in a controversial transfer from Derby in the summer.

Having previously played for Celtic, the Scotland striker did not find many friends among the Light Blue legions when he returned to Glasgow.

Yet, a large number of Gers fans also felt the 28-year-old, surplus to requirements at Parkhead just 12 months earlier, was simply not good enough.

For all his strengths, Kenny has rarely been a prolific goal scorer and he was booed by Rangers supporters during his early appearances.

Yet, nobody is booing any more. A double in an emphatic Old Firm victory against his former employers last month helped win over many sceptics. As has another brace in a 3-0 win over Hibs at Easter Road yesterday - which restored his side's three-point advantage at the top of the SPL table.

It was impossible to accuse Miller of being a poor finisher in Edinburgh such were the quality of his first-half strikes against another former club, allied to Madjid Bougherra's effort.

Furthermore, those efforts took his season's tally to four from six appearances, including one as a substitute and one wide on the left, at club level.

Not bad for a player with a supposedly questionable goals- per-game ratio. It augurs well for the remainder of the season and his future Rangers career.

Gers assistant manager Ally McCoist revelled in his charge's successes in the dugout. The front man must be benefiting from his close association with the legendary scorer.

Broadfoot, who set up both of Miller's goals, can also look ahead with confidence after another excellent individual display for his boyhood heroes at right-back.

The former St Mirren defender was infamously described as having "limited ability" by Scotland manager George Burley earlier this month.

On this form, though, he will be one of the first names down on the national boss's team sheet when we play Norway in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday week.

His predecessor, Alan Hutton, remains sidelined at Spurs and Kirk showed he is both dependable defensively and a potent threat going forward down either flank in the capital.

Smith's side in general has responded well to the bitter fall-out from their disappointing Champions League exit to Lithuanian minnows Kaunas.

They were once again under serious pressure to achieve a victory yesterday after Celtic had leapfrogged them at the top of the division with a last-gasp 3-2 win over Aberdeen.

Once again, they were more than equal to the task. Their only dropped points remain in the contentious 1-1 draw with the Dons at Pittodrie.

What was especially pleasing for Smith, whose side's next test is against St Mirren at Love Street on Sunday, is that he now has genuine strength in depth.

He dropped Kris Boyd and Nacho Novo yesterday after their exertions in the Co-operative Insurance Cup win over Partick Thistle in midweek and played Miller in attack and Charlie Adam wide left.

Smith has, then, options in virtually every department of his side. That will prove invaluable as the title race heats up.

As, for that matter, could the continued criticism of his personnel and team in general. NEED TO KNOW

Was it a good game? It was real end-to-end stuff in the first half and Rangers were lucky not to fall a goal behind. Neil Alexander saved well from Dean Shiels and Kevin Thomson nodded a Souleymane Bamba header off his own line. But after Kenny Miller netted twice it was comfortable for the visitors. Gers centre half Madjid Bougherra sewed up the victory with his first goal in Scotland late on.

What were the goals like? Miller's efforts were both beauties. He scored the first with a superb diving header and bagged the second with a curling long range shot, which left Hibs keeper Yves Ma-Kalambay with no chance. Bougherra did well to divert a Thomson free-kick into the Hibs net at the death.

So was Miller the best Rangers player? Probably. But Kirk Broadfoot had another excellent afternoon in both defence and attack. The right back set up both Miller goals, first with a great cross and then with a delightful pass. Nearly laid on a hat-trick when he sent Miller through at the end only to see him shoot wide of goal. The boy is on fire.

What about Hibs best player? Nobody was especially impressive for the home team. Not even Scotland caps Steven Fletcher and Derek Riordan up front. Centre half Rob Jones battled away doggedly.

How did the referee do? Calum Murray booked both Jones and Jean-Claude Darcheville after they got involved in a shoving match, but had no major flashspoints to contend with. A decent afternoon.

Who is up next? It's Love Street on Sunday for a live Setanta match with St Mirren.