Ally McCoist points finger at red-card duo after Rangers exit Champions League

Whittaker and Bougherra were both sent off by Russian referee Vladislav Bezborodov as the Scottish champions slumped out of Uefa's elite club tournament 2-1 on aggregate to Malmo in the third qualifying round after a 1-1 second leg draw in the Swedbank Stadium.

Whittaker was shown a straight red card for petulantly throwing the ball at Malmo winger Jimmy Durmaz after just 18 minutes with Bougherra suffering a similar fate for needlessly poleaxing substitute Dardan Rexhepi with a forearm smash in the 66th minute.

At that stage, Rangers were leading 1-0 through Nikica Jelavic's first-half goal and looking the likelier side to score again. But their hopes of overturning a home first leg deficit for the first time in their 55-year European history were dashed by Jiloan Hamad's 80th-minute strike.

The Swedish champions, themselves reduced to ten men when Brazilian defender Ricardinho was dismissed for a second bookable offence in the 73rd minute, celebrated wildly at full time.

Rangers, without their usual travelling support because of the Uefa ban imposed on them last season, were left to count the cost of dropping into the Europa League and missing out on the potential 15 million bounty in the Champions League group stage.

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Manager McCoist, while calm and measured in his post-match press conference, was unable to disguise his dismay at the conduct of Whittaker and Bougherra which left the rest of his players facing an uphill struggle.

"I haven't seen the red card incidents again on television, but I'd have to say I'm disappointed at the players giving the referee the opportunity to send them off," said McCoist. "We said to the players at half-time that, with the way the game was going, there was the possibility the referee would send someone else off.

"I can't tell you how disappointed I am for the vast majority of our players. I thought we had some really terrific performances. But it's a team game. Individual talent helps, but you win or lose as a team. Unfortunately it wasn't to be for the nine men.

"The match was pretty open and we certainly created enough chances to add to our lead. Unfortunately, we never took them. But I couldn't be happier with the vast majority of our players tonight.

"As disappointed as I am, and I'm certainly bitterly disappointed, the vast majority of our players showed real character, strength and no shortage of talent. I've been involved at this club for a good number of years now and you have to experience the highs and lows. Winning the league at the end of the season at Kilmarnock was a massive high and tonight is a massive, massive low.

"But I wouldn't swap it. It's where you want to be - you don't want to be at other clubs where mediocrity is acceptable. We certainly won't accept that. We will pick ourselves up and get on with it."The Champions League exit will intensify the early season scrutiny on both McCoist and new Rangers owner Craig Whyte.

The club's transfer policy has come under fierce criticism with only Juan Manuel Ortiz, Lee Wallace and Dorin Goian so far added to an already undermanned squad.

Asked directly if he felt let down, McCoist replied: "No, not at all. The transfer deadline is at the end of August. I can totally understand the argument saying we should have got more players in.

"We have been attempting to get players in, but haven't managed to get as many as we would have liked. We will continue to search and press for new talent to come to the club.

"You could always do with more players, there's absolutely no doubt about that. The point I've made before, and I will continue to make it, is that we have some great players and it's our job to get them help.

"I hope people would agree that you saw enough from our team tonight to say we are not a bad side. In fact, we are far better than that. We are a good side and I would take our starting group of players against most teams. But we need to get those players some help."

Romanian defender Goian missed last night's game with a hamstring injury, Rangers having earlier succeeded in their appeal to Uefa to deem him eligible.

"It's sod's law," said McCoist. "We got the good news from Uefa today, but unfortunately Dorin felt his hamstring at training so it was a blow for us. But I'd have to say that while you don't like singling anyone out after a result which knocks you out, Sasa Papac was absolutely out of this world.

"He was another one who shouldn't have played, as he has been under the doctor's supervision for the last 24 hours. He showed real spirit to play and that is a plus for us."

Bougherra's red card came in what is likely to be his last match for Rangers before completing a 1.7 million move to Qatari champions Lekhwiya.

"I don't know if it's his last game, but, judging from the comments from the other side, I'd have to say it's a possibility," said McCoist.