Nacho Novo's strike earned Rangers a 1-0 win over Hamilton at New Douglas Park.
Smith's men move 10 points clear at the summit
A sole strike from Nacho Novo proved just enough to earn Rangers maximum points at New Douglas Park.
The forward had endured a disappointing afternoon before the breakthrough, but slotted home from a tight angle in the 78th minute after John Fleck's curling shot had been parried into his path by Tomas Cerny.
Hamilton had frustrated the SPL leaders for long periods before the break, with Novo and Kyle Lafferty both seeing chances easily dealt with.
Walter Smith's words of encouragement at the interval however must have struck a chord as Gers came out in a far more determined mood.
Lafferty and Sasa Papac both went close before the breakthrough, and Steven Davis wasted a golden chance to make the game safe in the closing seconds.
Best chances
The visitors were without several key players for the second of three consecutive games against Accies and it showed as the home side carved out the best of the chances.
Kenny Miller and Lee McCulloch were both suspended and Kris Boyd was sidelined after undergoing groin surgery, with Novo, Kevin Thomson and Maurice Edu all starting for the Scottish champions.
As confirmed by Smith on Friday, goalkeeper Allan McGregor remained in the team following allegations of sexual assault, which he has denied.
With the prolific partnership of Miller and Boyd unavailable, the match provided an opportunity for Lafferty to impress in his favoured centre-forward position and he had a chance early on.
Novo flicked on for Lafferty but Cerny raced off his line to get a touch on the ball and the Northern Ireland man fired over under pressure from the Hamilton goalkeeper.
Hamilton were also looking dangerous and Richie Hastings did well to pick out Marco Paixao but his header was directed straight at McGregor, who smothered comfortably.
The home side then squandered a great chance to open the scoring when Simon Mensing slipped a lovely pass through to Mickael Antoine-Curier who touched on for Paixao but he blasted horribly wide when it looked easier to score.
Sliced
Hamilton continued to press and Mensing was only denied by the quick actions of Danny Wilson, who sliced his powerful shot off the line.
Antoine-Curier, in particular, was causing problems for the Rangers defence and tried his luck with a shot of his own which flashed wide of target.
Chances from the visitors had been few and far between and an angled drive from the edge of the box from Lafferty did little to trouble Cerny in the Hamilton goal.
Steven Davis then rifled over the crossbar from just outside the area as Rangers resorted to desperate measures in a vain bid to claim the opener before the break.
Rangers needed a positive reaction in the second half and Steven Whittaker was not too far away with a well-struck effort which flashed across the face of goal.
At the other end, Antoine-Curier whipped a cross into the goalmouth for Mensing but he connected awkwardly with the header and McGregor was able to gather.
Whittaker had another chance to open the scoring when he collected a Davis ball out on the left only to ripple the side-netting with a weak effort, before Lafferty nodded over with a header that was also lacking any real threat.
Hamilton still looked more than capable of finding the back of the net and Paixao and Antoine-Curier combined well again, with the latter drilling inches past the post.
A poor clearance from David Weir then landed straight at the feet of Paixao and McGregor was forced to come to the rescue to block a deflected shot from the Portuguese.
Paixao was threatening again with a superb overhead kick that was just off target, before Rangers hit Accies with the sucker-punch with 12 minutes to go.
Papac fed the ball to substitute Fleck, whose shot was parried by Cerny. The rebound then fell kindly for Novo to lash home from the tightest of angles.
Davis should have made the game safe in the dying seconds when Gers broke three-on-two but scuffed his shot way wide of the target.
