Gritty defensive performance sees Rangers through

AN OUTSTANDING defensive display from Rangers in Belgrade carried Walter Smith’s side into the group stages of the Champions League.

Nacho Novo’s late goal in the first leg at Ibrox two weeks ago proved decisive as Rangers withstood all the pressure Red Star could muster to secure a 1-0 aggregate victory.

A delighted Rangers boss Smith said: “It means an awful lot to the club. Every one of us wants to be involved in the Champions League.

“We had a nervy start to the game and after that you’re always worried about losing a goal, but they managed to hold out and everyone’s delighted.”

Red Star promised they would intimidate Rangers, but Smith’s side kept their cool to secure themselves a place in tomorrow’s draw.

They could have won, Jean-Claude Darcheville having the best chance of the second half but missing the target.

However a draw was enough to carry Rangers through, securing a minimum £10 million prize fund.

Rangers’ preparation almost went out the window in the first minute when centre-back Carlos Cuellar missed a long ball but Allan McGregor blocked Igor Burzanovic’s low shot.

The Rangers keeper made several good saves to take his side through, while Darcheville was a persistent pest to the Red Star defence.

McCulloch won Rangers a free-kick in a dangerous position on the left edge of the penalty area and Barry Ferguson’s shot was deflected over.

Rangers threatened again when Darcheville’s power saw him find space on the right, but Ferguson could only fire wide at from his near-post cross.

McGregor made a decent block just after the half-hour point of the game.

Burzanovic burst into the penalty area and drove a shot towards the far corner but McGregor pushed the ball to safety.

Red Star should have gone ahead when Filip Dordevic’s shot was deflected to Dusan Andjelkovic, but the defender sliced his right-footed shot well over the bar from 10 yards.

McGregor kept Rangers ahead in the tie with a save from a goal-bound drive from 15 yards by Andjelkovic.

Then Red Star winger Ognjen Koroman saw an ambitious strike early in the second half smothered by Sasa Papac’s challenge.

Darcheville had his opportunity to put Rangers 2-0 ahead on aggregate in the 57th minute. The former Bordeaux frontman peeled away from his marker to give himself a run towards Randjelovic, but he drilled a left-footed shot across goal and wide.

McCulloch also came close, turning inside after collecting the ball with his back to goal 25 yards out.

He struck a firm shot towards the bottom left corner which almost beat Randjelovic but the goalkeeper diverted the ball just wide.

Red Star threatened the Rangers lead when Koroman’s blistering 25-yard shot was tipped over the bar by McGregor.

There was no indication of Red Star giving up but Andjelkovic lashed a left-footed strike well off target.

But Rangers whiled away the four minutes of stoppage time with possession football, to seal their return to the European elite.

RED STAR BELGRADE: Randjelovic, Andjelkovic, Milijas (Raskovic 74), Koroman, Burzanovic (Barcos 71), Tutoric, Lucas, Gueye, Basta, Dordevic, Castillo.

RANGERS: McGregor, Hutton, Weir, Papac, Whittaker (Beasley 79), Hemdani, Thomson, Cuellar, McCulloch, Ferguson, Darcheville (Cousin 70). Referee: L Batista (Portugal).