AEK Athens 1 - 0 Rangers: Smith confident despite defeat

Published on Friday 30 July 2010 19:08

Walter Smith believes his players can make a decent fist of their forthcoming Champions League campaign despite losing 1-0 to AEK Athens in the last game of the Sydney Festival of Football tournament in Australia.

The Ibrox side were pilloried for their European performances last season after finishing bottom of their group, scoring just two points.

However, Rangers' display in the Sydney Stadium against the Greek side has given Smith hope that better Euro results can be achieved this time around.

"I think this match can serve as a dress rehearsal for what we will face in the Champions League," Smith told the club's website.

"Obviously there are clubs who are a level above ourselves and AEK, like Real Madrid and Manchester United, but I think playing Athens has given us a good indication of what we will face in the Champions League.

"So the fact that we countered them so well and played to our strengths was encouraging."

After beating Blackburn Rovers and drawing with host club Sydney, Rangers looked to finish on a high but after missing a series of chances, a second-half goal from AEK's Australian substitute Nathan Burns separated the teams.

However, Smith declared himself content with the trip. He said: "Overall I was very pleased with the way we played. And that goes for the whole tournament.

"We did well in the Blackburn game - especially the first half - we played well for over an hour in this game and it was the conditions that affected us - and Sydney - in our game on Wednesday.

"So overall it was a good work-out for us and the only disappointment is that we didn't win the game."

Smith revealed Kyle Lafferty is not an injury concern after the Ulsterman limped off after only half an hour with a groin strain.

"Lafferty is not serious," Smith said. "It's a groin strain similar to the injury that Andy Webster has and the pitch was probably to blame. We don't think he will missing for more than a couple of days."

Webster's injury allowed Madjid Bougherra to come back after his calf problem and it was the Algeria international who had the best of Rangers' chances.

Smith added: "I though Madjid was going to score. In fact he had two good chances towards the end of the first half but he is a centre half, after all. On another day Kenny Miller might have had two or three goals so we have to take positives."

Smith brought in number one keeper Allan McGregor for Neil Alexander for the game, which was played on a heavy pitch.AEK came close in the 11th minute when Nikos Lyberopoulos curled a free-kick just past the post from 25 yards.

Moments after John Fleck had replaced Lafferty, Rangers defender Steven Whittaker crossed for Miller who was inches away from connecting six yards out. Then Lee McCulloch took a pass from Maurice Edu and had a go from distance only to see AEK keeper Sebastian Saja make a good save, repeating it seconds later from a McCulloch header.

Rangers grew stronger and in the 42nd minute Bougherra headed just wide with the goal gaping and a minute later, following some intense pressure, he blasted over from close range.

Just on the half-time whistle Whittaker was taken down in the box by Nikolaos Karabelas but Rangers' strong penalty claims were ignored by referee Matthew Breeze.

The Scots side started the second half strongly and Miller steered a header wide of the target from a Steven Naismith cross.

But Rangers were made to pay for their missed chances when Karabelas crossed from the left for Burns to put the Greeks ahead.

The Scottish champions responded positively and Andy Little, on for Miller, made keeper Saja punch clear.

But in the 77th minute AEK should have doubled their lead when Kirk Broadfoot's hurried pass was intercepted but McGregor spread himself to deny Rafik Djebbour.

Earlier in the day goals from Brett Emerton and Morten Gamst Pedersen gave Blackburn a 2-1 win over Sydney.

Gers lay out the Welcome mat

Walter Smith is confident he will have signed at least two new players before the start of the new season, with Georgie Welcome and Nikica Jelavic top of the list of possible recruits.

Honduran World Cup striker Welcome is due to arrive at Murray Park tomorrow for a week's trial.

And Smith confirmed he is closing in on Rapid Vienna's Jelavic.

The Austrians are looking for 3.25 million, even though the Croatian striker is in the final year of his contract.

The cash-strapped Ibrox club will not pay that amount but Smith remains hopeful that Jelavic will arrive to bolster his squad.

Welcome, 25, had been linked with a move to Ibrox before this summer's World Cup in South Africa.

His club Motagua have confirmed they have allowed the 500,000-rated forward to travel to Glasgow after Welcome played in their CONCACAF Champions League 1-0 defeat in Toronto.