Kaunas 2, Rangers 1 (agg 2-1): Desperate Rangers let lead slip as Kaunas take plaudits

It was an utterly desperate evening for Rangers and their manager Walter Smith who saw the kudos and credibility earned from last season's march to the Uefa Cup final washed away along with the 10 million bounty provided by qualification for the group stage of the Champions League.

Without even the consolation of dropping into the Uefa Cup, Smith and his players will now be under intense pressure to provide some compensation to their disgruntled supporters in the form of domestic success.

On current evidence, however, they are clearly ill-equipped to challenge Celtic's dominance of the SPL. There was a startling and ultimately fatal lack of conviction about Rangers last night, even after Kevin Thomson had opened the scoring to give them what should have been a platform for comfortable progress against spirited but limited opponents.

From the moment Kaunas equalised just before half-time, they always looked the side more likely to prevail and Pilibaitis duly provided the contribution which prevented Rangers stumbling home with an away goals victory.

Rain which fell steadily throughout yesterday left the underfoot conditions at the ramshackle S Darius and S Gireno Stadium treacherous come kick off just after 8pm local time.

Smith, surprisingly considering the limp early season form of his side, made just one change to the starting line-up which had been held to a goal-less draw at Ibrox six days earlier.

The manager reverted to the 4-1-4-1 formation which proved so fruitful away from home in Europe last season, Jean-Claude Darcheville the player to drop to the bench as Nacho Novo was deployed on the right flank.

Christian Dailly, a match winner for Smith at the same ground when Scotland defeated Lithuania 2-1 in a Euro 2008 qualifier two years ago, was preferred to Brahim Hemdani for the specialist role in front of a back four which did not include Carlos Cuellar as he recovers from injury. Lee McCulloch joined Thomson in central midfield with Charlie Adam on the left. Kenny Miller, also a scorer in that Scotland victory here under Smith, retained the lone striking position.

The first indication that the greasy surface could influence the game came when Marian Kello, the Kaunas keeper, slipped when moving to deal with a cross-cum-shot from Novo and had to scramble back to touch the ball over.

Miller should have provided the breakthrough for Rangers in the 18th minute, but displayed the feckless streak in front of goal which has persuaded many observers Smith was mistaken in bringing him back to Ibrox. Finding himself with only Kello to beat, Miller's attempted lob was poorly executed and the ball drifted off target.

The pace of Kaunas on the counter attack caused anxiety in the Rangers ranks and both McCulloch and Thomson earned themselves bookings for fouls to halt raids by Rafael Ledesma and Vytautas Luksa respectively.

Rangers were toiling to bring any cohesion to their play, but one excellent move set up another chance for Miller who this time stubbed his shot from the edge of the penalty area straight to Kello. The Kaunas keeper was more troubled by a rash header back to his own goal by Mindaugas Baguzis. To the defender's relief, the ball sailed narrowly wide with Kello stranded.

Just a minute later, however, Rangers opened the scoring largely through their own efforts, although Kello could not be happy with his attempts to prevent Thomson's goal. Played in by Novo, the former Hibs captain stabbed in a shot from an angle on the edge of the six-yard box. Kello looked well set to save it, but the ball deflected off both his ankles and over the line.

It should have eased the pressure on the visitors, but they continued to look nervous. McGregor flapped at a free-kick from Ledesma, the ball curling wide of his right hand post, and the Rangers No 1 was then beaten from distance as Kaunas equalised in spectacular fashion two minutes before the interval.

Dailly conceded the free-kick with a foul on Ledesma some 40 yards out. Radzius, captain for the night in place of injured former Hearts player Tomas Kancelskis, struck it brilliantly. The ball cleared the defensive wall and flashed beyond the clawing right hand of McGregor into the roof of the net.

Kirk Broadfoot had to make a fine covering challenge to prevent Adrian Mrowiec putting Kaunas ahead on the stroke of half-time and Rangers continued to live dangerously after the break. They were fortunate to see Marius Cinikas strike the crossbar with a chance he should have converted after cutting his way into the penalty area, then Mrowiec passed up another opportunity for Kaunas when he headed Nukri Manchkhava's cross straight at McGregor.

It was heart-in-the-mouth material for the 500-strong Rangers support being soaked in the open parts of the ground, but their tension should have been soothed by Andrius Velicka, a replacement for Adam, when the Lithuanian striker missed a glorious chance to net against his former club, shooting over after being set up by Papac.

It seemed Rangers would be able to ride their luck, but with three minutes of regulation time remaining they conceded a goal which will haunt Smith for years to come.

Ledesma curled over a corner from the left and Pilibaitis beat David Weir to it, his header crossing the line with the aid of a deflection off Novo.

How Smith's squad rated in crucial Champions League qualifier

ALLAN McGREGOR

Untroubled until late in the first-half when he was lucky to get away with flapping at an inswinging free-kick. Keeper won't enjoy watching his contribution to both goals. 4/10

STEVEN WHITTAKER

Mopped up comfortably what was mostly sloppy build-up work by Kaunas. Never saw his attacking threat on a night when Rangers were crying out for any kind of creative input. 5

KIRK BROADFOOT

Lumbering style saw him caught out on occasion. 5

DAVID WEIR

There was little Weir could have done to change the result as central defensive duo were not put under any huge pressure despite all Kaunas' possession in the second period. 6

SASA PAPAC

Did his job defensively but offers very little when Rangers have possession. 6

CHRISTIAN DAILLY

Took on the 'Hemdani role' on a night when a defensive shield seemed like overkill from Walter Smith. 5

NACHO NOVO

Usual committed performance from the Spaniard proved vital to Rangers as he provided the pass for Thomson to open the scoring. Terrific work-rate going forward but unfortunately he will be remembered for his defensive contribution as he failed to clear off his line at Kaunas' winner. 6

LEE McCULLOCH

First name in the referee's book for a tug at Ledesma and things didn't improve greatly for the wide midfielder who, with the absence of Barry Ferguson, was asked to do a shift in the centre of the park to little effect. 5

KEVIN THOMSON

Blotted his copybook with caution for clumsy trip but atoned ten minutes later when his shot squeezed through the legs of Kello for the opening goal. His distribution improved as the match wore on but failed to impose a Ferguson-type authority on proceedings and didn't set any kind of tempo to Rangers play. 6

CHARLIE ADAM

Struggled to make too much of an impact after being stationed on the left of Rangers midfield four. He is usually a threat from set-piece situations but a weak second-half free-kick that failed to breach the wall was his last action before being replaced by former Kaunas striker Audrius Velicka after 69 minutes. 4

KENNY MILLER

Scooped an early chance over bar after being put through by Dailly but saw little of the ball where he would have preferred it, i.e in the box, so he dropped deep and wide to decent effect in the second half. Replaced in the dying moments by Kris Boyd, it would be no surprise if the fans made Miller a scapegoat for the defeat. 6

SUBSTITUTES

Andrius Velicka (on for Adam, 66 minutes)

Missed good chance on 82 minutes when he scooped a cut-back over the bar from just inside the area. How he was to rue that miss soon after. 2

Kyle Lafferty (on for Novo, 88 minutes)

Thrown on in the last minute in the hope his height might see him latch on to a desperate high ball. Never saw a chance.

Kris Boyd (on for Miller, 88 minutes)

Many Rangers fans would have wanted to see Boyd on from the very first minute, but he had no time to make an impact.

RATINGS BY ROSS MALCOLM