WALTER SMITH today hit back at critics of the SPL by telling them: "You can't have your cake and eat it."

The quality of the top flight has come under fire from various quarters this season, with SFA president George Peat claiming the standard was so poor in some games, he could have played in goal.

Smith accepts Scottish teams boasted better individual players a decade ago, but argues what the Top 12 lacks in thrilling football is counter-balanced by a title race in which the Old Firm are capable of dropping points at any time.

"You can't have your cake and eat it," said Smith, who is preparing his side for Sunday's trip to rock-bottom Falkirk.

"No disrespect to anybody that's playing at the present moment, Scottish football did have possibly better individuals 10 years ago.

"We might not have the best individual players - and we certainly haven't got that if you stretch throughout Europe.

"But the level of competition in the Scottish game is great and that's testament to the good work that a lot of the managers and coaches do and obviously the attitude that the players have throughout the league.

"So I always find it very difficult in Scotland; I find it a very competitive environment.

"I think fitness levels are up, and the management levels, coaching levels tactically are very good.

"There's a great deal of awareness of how the game should be played against each of the teams, and that makes it really difficult.

"So, we have a level of competition, I think, that should be applauded."

The Light Blues boss knows all about suffering shock results, with Rangers on the end of the two biggest upsets in the SPL this season.

St Mirren were bottom of the table when they beat Smith's men in October, as were Inverness Caley when they won at Ibrox last month.

Smith will be desperate to avoid an unwanted hat-trick at Falkirk Stadium on Sunday, the first of three games in less than a week for his side following the international break.

He told Rangers World: "We're right back in there after the internationals there and I think that's a good thing for us."