We can still oust Malmo, insists Naisy

Naismith and Nikica Jelavic were both scored as the champions claimed a 2-0 victory in Perth in the SPL on Saturday. The much-needed confidence-booster came after last week's draw against Hearts and the 1-0 defeat to Malmo at Ibrox, which leaves their hopes of progressing to the Champions League group stages in the balance.

Naismith said: "The only positive we can take out of the first leg is that we did create so many chances. We did play badly but we created four or five chances and on another day we might have scored.

"If we can create that many chances over there, hopefully we can take a few. As a team we would expect to be much better and create some chances. We are a bit relieved just to get off the mark this season, although last week, especially in the second half against Hearts, I thought we played really well."

Naismith hopes his partnership with Jelavic can prove to be the key to success against Malmo, whose own league game against Djurgarden was abandoned on Saturday after firecrackers were thrown onto the pitch.

He added: "I'm enjoying playing alongside Jelavic, he is a very clever player and he makes a lot of decisions for you in terms of putting the ball in the right place for you. So far this season, we have had a good understanding."

The victory over Saints was Ally McCoist's first win as Rangers manager and he has refused to give up hope of another positive result in Sweden on Wednesday. He said: "We can take encouragement, not only from the St Johnstone game, but also from the chances we created in the second half against Malmo as well."