Shock Unirea defeat was a turning point, argues Smith

Published on Monday 23 November 2009 22:57

IN WHAT has emerged as a group of dearth rather than death, Walter Smith admits to both surprise and relief that there is still life left in Rangers' quest to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League this season.

Victory over VfB Stuttgart at Ibrox tonight, allied to Unirea Urziceni's failure to beat runaway Group G winners Sevilla in Bucharest, would leave the Scottish champions firmly in the shake-up to scramble through as runners-up.

At worst, the Rangers manager is hopeful his team can secure third place and the consolation of qualification for the last 32 of the Europa League next February. From a campaign which has seen them suffer two humbling 4-1 home defeats, against Sevilla and Unirea, it would still represent an acceptable outcome.

Smith believes the crushing Ibrox loss to unheralded Romanian champions Unirea last month has proved something of a tipping point for Rangers. Following a serious inquest, during which he admits he indulged in critical reflection of his own part in one of the most embarrassing results in the club's European history, Smith feels his players have recovered the kind of form and momentum required to turn their fortunes around.

"You don't get a performance like that, never mind the result, without having a situation where you have to ask yourself a few questions," said Smith. "And I'm talking about myself, all the way down through the club.

"Since the Unirea game at Ibrox, we have had a far better edge to our play. I don't know whether that performance brought home a lot of things to everybody at the club. But we have played far better since that game.

"I don't know if we thought that after winning the championship last season, that all of a sudden we were achieving. But whatever was said, we have had a good reaction from everyone and are playing better than we have done since the start of the season.

"In the early part of the season, we were certainly inconsistent in the manner we were playing. We are on a better run of form now than we have been at any other time in the season.

"Against Unirea at Ibrox, we never played at any stage of the game. Although we lost to three deflected goals, that was maybe symptomatic of the performance we had.

"It is surprising that we are still in contention to qualify but that is a motivational factor for all three teams outwith Sevilla in the group. For us to have two points gained away from home and two defeats at home is a surprising factor in any Champions League section.

"So to still have the opportunity of playing some kind of European football beyond Christmas is a big motivation for us. It is a big game in that respect.

"It is as much of a relief as anything else that we have managed to reach a position where we are still in contention. Stuttgart will think exactly the same thing. It is a huge game for both clubs."

While Smith is encouraged by his team's recent form, he refuses to read too much into Stuttgart's continuing domestic difficulties which saw them drop into the Bundesliga relegation zone at the weekend.

"They will obviously be disappointed with the position they are in," said Smith. "but I think they are a better side than their position indicates. Sometimes the Champions League games can be a big motivation for any team, regardless of their domestic situation. You would think it would only be a matter of time before they turn their form around."

With victory imperative for Rangers tonight, Smith concedes that recent improvements in Kris Boyd's all-round game may make him consider switching from his favoured 4-1-4-1 European formation to a bolder 4-4-2.

"Kris Boyd has always thrown up the same dilemma to me," said Smith. "It will always be there in his play. But I've got to say he is doing far better in his overall play over the last two or three months, than at any time since I've been here.

"There have been some games where leaving him out has worked out okay and there have been some where I've wished I'd put him in. Tomorrow night's game comes into the category where I'll have to figure out whether to play him or not."

It would still be a surprise, however, if Boyd did not begin the evening in his almost customary European role on the substitutes' bench with Kenny Miller again deployed as a lone striker.

Miller agreed yesterday that the post-mortem into the Unirea defeat has been a significant catalyst in Rangers' season.

"It was a bit of a kick up the backside that we possibly needed," said Miller. "The manner of that defeat meant a few things definitely hit home that night. Since then, I think you have seen a far better Rangers team going into each game. Hopefully we can take it into Tuesday night.

"To be honest, we are pretty fortunate to still be in with a chance of qualifying. If you look at the points totals needed to reach the last 16 over the last few seasons, they have been a lot higher than will probably be achieved by the team who finish second in this group.

"But even while we are fortunate in that respect, when these kind of opportunities come along you have to try and grab them."

STORY SO FAR

GROUP G RESULTS

16 September

VfB Stuttgart 1, Rangers 1 .

Sevilla 2, Urinea Urziceni 0.

29 September

Urinea Urziceni 1, VfB Stuttgart 1.

Rangers 1, Sevilla 4.

20 October

VfB Stuttgart 1, Sevilla 3.

Rangers 1, Urinea Urziceni 4.

4 November

Urinea Urziceni 1, Rangers 1.

Sevilla 1, VfB Stuttgart 1.

REMAINING FIXTURES

Tonight

Rangers v VfB Stuttgart.

Urinea Urziceni v Sevilla.

9 December

VfB Stuttgart v Urinea Urziceni.

Sevilla v Rangers.