RANGERS midfielder Kevin Thomson is confident of progress in their Champions League qualifier against FBK Kaunas despite the goalless draw in the first leg at Ibrox last night.
The Light Blues missed several chances during an anxious and unconvincing 90 minutes with strikers Kenny Miller and Jean-Claude Darcheville the biggest culprits, both spurning first-half sitters. Last season's UEFA Cup finalists need to score in Kaun
as next Tuesday – unless they fancy their chances in a penalty shoot-out – but Thomson, who passed a late fitness test on a knee injury to play, is not ready to press the panic button.
"From what we saw in this game, I am sure we can improve and go to Lithuania and score an away goal," he said.
"I suppose they played the way we did last year. They sat in and made it difficult and we didn't have that bit of flair and cutting edge in front of goal, which was a wee bit disappointing.
"The onus is going to be on them. It's always difficult being the team playing at home, when you have to dictate and try to score. Over there, we can try to employ the same tactics as last year, sit a wee bit tighter and try to use our pace up front to score on the counter-attack.
"We had a lot of possession in the second half, but we just lacked that little bit of inspiration and magic to get a goal. I'm sure that will come, though, because this is just our first competitive game. We will go there with confidence and we're confident we can score. They are well into their season, we've now seen them and feel as though they won't have much more to come. It's our first game and I'm sure we are going to get better. If we score over there, I am sure we will get through."
Gers boss Walter Smith is confident Rangers can secure the win they need in Kaunas.
However, he warned against taking success in next week's second leg in Lithuania for granted.
"If we can get ourselves in front we can be confident but it will be an awkward one," said Smith.
"We have that confidence, there is no doubt. But I need to point out that because we had that success last season, it doesn't mean it will happen this season.
"We need to be wary of that aspect. We just need to put in a performance that matches that confidence.
"I feel as though we are capable of winning the game but I don't like to keep looking back at last season, that's finished, and we should look forward now."
The full article contains 456 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
