Smith never stopped believing Gers could strike back

RANGERS boss Walter Smith maintained he never felt his team were out of the running in their UEFA Cup tie despite relying on Nacho Novo’s dramatic 81st-minute equaliser to secure an away goals victory over Panathinaikos in Athens last night.

Spanish striker Novo pounced on a loose ball to slot home the precious goal which hardly seemed likely after Ioannis Goumos had given the Greeks the advantage with a thunderous first-half strike from long range.

Smith said: As the game went on I felt that we would get something.