Rangers winger DaMarcus Beasley has revealed that missing out on the Scottish Premier League title on the final day in controversial circumstances has made Walter Smith's squad doubly determined to end Celtic's domination next term.

Rangers had been on course to win four trophies at the start of this month but Celtic took advantage of a tight schedule which saw the Light Blues having to play three league games in the space of six days following their UEFA Cup final loss to Zenit St Petersburg, and it was the Hoops who came out on top in the end.

Beasley - currently with the USA squad preparing for Wednesday night's Wembley friendly with England - is convinced his side had been unfairly treated by administrators who had extended the normal season only slightly.

He said: "Getting the SPL title back from Celtic is definitely the aim. It is always our first priority and now that Celtic have won it three times in a row we want to win it even more.

"It was disappointing to lose it after it came down to the wire and I know that if we hadn't had to play all those games so close together we would have won the championship easily.

"If they had given us a longer extension and the proper rest time then our boys would have won the SPL.

"It was ridiculous to play four games in one week - Saturday, Monday, Thursday and then Saturday again for the final. That is unheard of but that was the extension they gave us and we had to fit all our games in that.

"It wasn't through a lack of trying. We wanted to win very badly but it just didn't happen. We didn't moan about it, we just got on with it and gave it our best shot.

"But at the same time no football team should have to play all those games, especially at such a high level, over such a short time period."

The 26-year-old missed five months of the campaign after hurting his right knee in a Champions League clash in Stuttgart in November. Surgery was required and the American was expected to miss the rest of the season but returned in time for the Scottish Cup final victory over Queen of the South.

Beasley was one of the scorers in a 3-2 success.

He said: "It has been a frustrating season but to come back for the cup final, to score and win was amazing. And it was my birthday as well."

The Americans have a World Cup qualifying double-header with Barbados next month and will play Spain and Argentina as well as England to prepare.

Beasley said: "We want a good run before we go into the World Cup qualifiers. These games are important as it is important we come together as a team over the next three weeks or so."

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