Dundee United will now need to count on the Old Firm in order to qualify for Europe after defeat at Ibrox meant they will finish the SPL season in fourth place.
The Tangerines were then ripped apart by Rangers on 25 minutes as Smith’s men made it two. A brilliant run by Naismith through the heart of the United defence was given the perfect finish when the Scotland man played in Lafferty, who drilled the ball low into the net from 15 yards.
United had been swept up in a blue tide of attacking play and they had to somehow find a way back into the game.
Just before the break they at least gave the home defence something to think about when Watson whipped in a cross that was plucked off the head of Scott Robertson by McGregor.
The Tannadice men made a switch at half-time, bringing on Daly in place of Johnny Russell.
With 53 minutes gone, Rangers should have made it three when Jelavic raced down the right wing before swinging the ball across goal, where it should have been tapped in by Lafferty.
As the hour approached, however, United were enjoying a fair bit of possession in the opposition half, with crosses just getting cut out and timely tackles being made by the home defenders.
Pernis did well to hold on to a Lafferty low strike on 67 minutes before Scott Robertson tested McGregor with a header. That was Robertson’s last contribution as he was replaced by Prince Buaben with 20 minutes to go, then was followed by David Robertson, who made way for Stuart Armstrong.
A Jelavic free-kick cleared the United bar by a few inches, then the Croat had a header off a Steve Davis cross saved by Pernis.
United sub Armstrong got his head on to a ball delivered into the box by Conway but McGregor easily gathered. The goalie was called into more serious action on 81 minutes when a Madjid Bougherra slip let in Goodwillie, who fed Daly. The striker cracked in a netbound shot that McGregor parried over.
The Tangerines were now making the title-chasers sweat and, on 82 minutes, young Armstrong smashed a 30-yard strike off McGregor’s right-hand post, with the keeper getting a touch onto the woodwork that shook for a few seconds afterwards.
With United’s purple patch not producing a goal, Whittaker tried his luck at the other end with a low shot that was palmed away by Pernis.Smith’s goodbyeAfter the final whistle the stage was left clear for Smith to say an emotional goodbye to the Rangers fans and this result now means it is odd-on that his parting gift to them will likely be another league trophy.
His assistant Ally McCoist later made it clear the lap of honour was to pay tribute to Smith and not a premature championship celebration.
“That was for Walter Smith and for Walter Smith only,” he said. “Our players and management are not taking anything for granted at all.
“No way are we being disrespectful to Kilmarnock and the championship is far from won.”
Smith himself added, “It was a good win for us |because Dundee United have always been awkward opponents for us. Arguably in the second half they had the better of the play but for the first half-hour we played exceptionally well and overall deserved to win the game.
“We got into a position where we had to win three games and we have won two of them now.
“The most important thing was the victory but it was a nice reception for me and I would thank the supporters for staying behind. Usually when you are a manager leaving a club it is because you’re sacked so I am leaving in a more pleasant manner than that.”
Attendance 49,267.Rangers McGregor, Weir, Papac, Edu, Davis, Lafferty (Foster 89), Naismith, Whittaker, Jelavic (Diouf), Bougherra, Wylde (McCulloch 65). Subs not used Alexander, Fleck, Healy, Hutton.Dundee United Pernis, Dixon, Watson, Severin, Kenneth, S. Robertson (Buaben 70), D. Robertson (Armstrong 73), Conway, Gomis, Goodwillie, Russell (Daly 46). Subs not used Banks, Dillon, Douglas, Shala.Referee Calum Murray.
With Hearts now uncatchable in third, the Tangerines need a Rangers title win then a Scottish Cup success for Celtic to return to the continental arena.
Of course, that double is a highly likely outcome, with the Hoops favourites to see off Motherwell at Hampden on May 21 and the Light Blues seemingly unstoppable in their quest for a third successive SPL crown.
There had been some winding-up going on in the build-up to the match, with Parkhead boss Neil Lennon stating he hoped United would be trying to take points off the Light Blues.
Well they did try and tested the hosts’ nerve in the second half in particular. Rangers were just on song in a dynamic first period that saw them score first through Nikica Jelavic then Kyle Lafferty.
It was all set up for the Light Blues, too, with this being manager Walter Smith’s final home game in charge. They will now watch with interest when Celtic go to Tynecastle tonight, before they finish off the season down at Kilmarnock on Sunday.
As for the Tannadice men, they should be proud of finishing fourth in what was always going to be a tough campaign, coming after last term’s Scottish Cup glory.
When you factor in the remarkable amount of injuries that ruled out key men for long spells particularly in central defence then the fans should turn up in good numbers on Sunday for the visit of the Jam Tarts and show their appreciation.
“We are going to finish fourth now and I would like to say congratulations to Hearts for clinching third spot,” said manager Peter Houston. I think what we have done is as good an achievement as finishing third last season.
“When I look back on the season and consider all the problems that have come before this club, with the injuries to key players, we have done really well.
“Indeed, since the turn of the year the players have been outstanding and I can’t praise them highly enough.
“I could pick massive faults in the way we defended the goals tonight. From a coaching point of view I can pick holes in it but it (the 2-0 scoreline) was probably no more than Rangers deserved at that stage.
“I would like to have scored a goal to see how Rangers reacted. There were spells in the second half when we looked like we could score and they could have gotten edgy.”
The Tangerines lined up with eight of the 11 who started their memorable 3-2 win here on April 2. The injured Danny Swanson didn’t make it this time, while Sean Dillon and Barry Douglas were on the bench.Daly benchedHouston also named Jon Daly as a substitute despite the big Irishman bagging a hat-trick against Motherwell at the weekend, with the Light Blues unchanged from Saturday’s convincing victory over Hearts.
Birmingham boss and former Rangers gaffer Alex McLeish was in the crowd, probably to wish Smith well but also to watch Tannadice striker David Goodwillie.
The Gers supporters were determined to mark the last home match of Smith’s reign, fittingly being played against the team that gave him his break in coaching under Jim McLean.
One banner declared, “For deeds done and glories won, thank you Walter.” Not all of the Ibrox fans got it right, though, with another reading, “Walter Legned.”
The atmosphere inside the stadium was electric, with the home support clearly expecting to take a significant step to a third successive title. The Tangerines’ task was to silence the stands.
With just a couple of minutes gone, United right-back Keith Watson was the first to worry the opposition with a decent shot that didn’t fly too far over keeper Allan McGregor’s bar.
There were loud shouts for a penalty for Rangers when Steven Naismith burst into the United box before falling but the pleas were a tad optimistic and ref Calum Murray waved play on.
Naismith and Jelavic combined to almost lay the ball on a plate for Lafferty on 13 minutes but United keeper Dusan Pernis dived at the Northern Ireland international’s feet to save.
Jelavic headed wide as the visitors were pushed back and only the post saved United on the quarter-hour mark when Lafferty smashed in a shot that beat Pernis.
Jelavic found space up the left but could only fire harmlessly over on 20 minutes but the Ibrox side only had another 60 seconds to wait for the opener. Steven Whittaker played a deep ball in from the right and Jelavic clipped a perfect header beyond Pernis to make it 1-0.