We have to win our last two games, says Smith

AFP - 4 November 2009 23:20

Kyle Lafferty (L) from Rangers FC vies for the ball with Valeriu Bordeanu (R) of Unirea Urziceni during UEFA Champions League football match in Bucharest. The match ended 1-1.

BUCHAREST (AFP) - Walter Smith says Rangers must win their two remaining games if they are to have any chance of playing in Europe in the New Year after watching his side concede a late equaliser to Unirea Urziceni in their Champions League Group G clash on Wednesday.

The Scottish champions' hopes of making the last 16 lessened considerably when substitute Marius Onofras lashed in an unstoppable shot to pull the Romanians level with just two minutes left after Lee McCulloch's drive had looked to have put Rangers on course for their first win of the competition this season.

The 1-1 draw, coupled with Stuttgart's draw with Sevilla, leaves Rangers rooted firmly to the bottom of Group G on two points from four games.

The Spanish side have now qualified for the next stage on ten points with Unirea on five and Bundesliga side Stuttgart one ahead of Rangers on three points.

The result is the latest in a poor run of results for Scottish teams in Europe with 15 defeats and only five wins in 23 ties played so far.

Despite this, third place in Group G, and a place in the Europa League, is still within the Old Firm side's grasp.

After being humbled by a humiliating 4-1 defeat to the unheralded Romanians at Ibrox two weeks ago, Rangers gave a much better account of themselves in Bucharest.

However, Smith knows his side need a home win over Stuttgart in three weeks time and an away victory in Spain if they are to reach the money spinning last 16 of the Champions.

"I felt we played very well and after getting in the lead, in the manner that we did do, to give it up so late in the game was a really disappointing factor for us," said Smith.

"It meant effectively that from getting ourselves back into contention in terms of qualification we made it even more difficult for ourselves by giving away a bad goal in the last few minutes.

"The pressure is on us to win our games - that's what we have to do. I don't think there is any other way forward for us.

"That's what makes it so disappointing to lose such a late goal - at least we acquitted ourselves in a better manner than we did do in the first game.

"The first game was as a poor a performance in Europe we have had since I came back so that made up for it a little bit.

"I don't think we had weak points tonight.

"I think our weakest point was our overall performance in the last game. That was our weakest point - we didn't play well at all.

"But I think we showed tonight that we can play better than we did do in the last game in Scotland.

"It's going to be far more difficult now but we just have to hope we can get ourselves together. We can put pressure on by winning our games."

In Bucharest youngster Danny Wilson came in for his first Champions League match to partner David Weir in the centre of defence in the absence of Madjid Bougherra, just a week after making his Rangers debut.

The 17-year-old became the youngest player to ever represent Rangers in the Champions League and looked composed throughout with Weir, 22 years his elder, guiding him through the match.

The highly rated centre-half was on hand to head an Onofras shot off the line seconds after Rangers had taken the lead and his manager said he was happy with how he handled the high pressure atmosphere.

"It was a terrific performance from Danny. He has not been fazed by playing in our league games or our league cup game last week and it was a good indication for us," Smith said.

"We are pleased with the way he has handled the situation since he has come into the team.

"That is his third game now and for a boy of 17, to go out into tonight's arena and play the way he did do, speaks volumes for him.

"Any team coming away to play against Unirea would have a problem. They have shown they are a very difficult team to play against and I must say he handled himself very well."