Rangers manager Walter Smith says his rebuilding will continue, despite the convincing 3-0 victory away to Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

"We have started the season well," said Smith. "But there were some passages of play when did not do so well.

"There are still one or two positions where we need cover for injuries. But, if we don't get anyone else in, I am happy with the group we've got. It was a good performance by us in difficult, very windy conditions."

Captain Barry Ferguson led the way by scoring the first and third goals.

"There was a lot of scrappy play at times, but we created a few chances, especially in the first half," said Smith.

"And we scored some good goals. Barry's first was a very good one and we needed that to settle us down.

"Nacho Novo did well to finish from an awkward ball and that was it, although Caley are always dangerous at set-pieces.

"We have had some difficult games here, so I'm obviously delighted to win this one."

Ferguson said that Smith had warned against a continuation of their poor performances against Caley Thistle.

"The gaffer made it clear that it was not good enough, so this was a big test for us," he said.

"It is always a difficult place to come and we're delighted to get three points and play some decent stuff."

Ferguson profited from being played in a more advanced position in midfield.

"The gaffer played me a bit further forward, which is something I enjoy," he said.

"I'm pleased to be back playing good football and I'm enjoying my stuff just now."

Ferguson was also pleased with the new signings made by Smith this summer.

"We've signed nine players and all of them are of a very good standard ¿ and the gaffer wants to sign a couple more," he said.

"We're moving in the right direction and that's the important thing."

Meanwhile, a brilliant stoppage-time save from Kilmarnock goalkeeper Alan Combe denied champions Celtic a winning start to their Scottish Premier League campaign yesterday.

Celtic's Scott Brown tried to lob a 10-yard shot towards the top right hand corner of the goal only for Combe to leap across and tip the ball over the bar.

Striker Maciej Zurawski squandered a chance for Celtic on 55 minutes when his knee-high shot was parried by Combe and the Pole mis-cued the rebound putting the ball wide of the left post.

Kilmarnock defender Simon Ford passed up their best opportunity just before the hour mark when he headed over the bar from six metres following a cross by Colin Nish.

However, there was little else to entertain the crowd in a rainswept encounter and Celtic manager Gordon Strachan told Setanta TV: "We started well, but in the second half the game got different. We had plenty of chances, but couldn't finish."

Promoted Gretna suffered a 4-0 defeat against Falkirk in their first ever SPL game.