Kaunas Upset Rangers Early Season

It was with great anticipation that I walked towards Ibrox last night looking forward to Rangers kicking off their new season with at least a win over Lithuanian side FBK Kaunas in the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round.

A poor performance and a 0-0 draw, however, have left Rangers with some serious questions, nevermind the unenviable task of going to Lithuania desperate to save their season!

It all started well with a large early season crowd welcoming their UEFA Cup Final heroes with the traditional Ibrox roar.

Sadly the crowd weren't roaring for long as Kaunas looked the better side early on.

Walter Smith gave a debut (for the second time) to striker Kenny Miller in a side that reverted from their much criticised 4-5-1 to a more attacking 4-4-2.

Jean-Claude Darcheville was his chosen partner up front in a decision that left most fans asking questions. Both are hard working players, but both would be more effective with the likes of Kris Boyd alongside.

It was Charlie Adam who created the first clear chance of the game as he snuck Kenny Miller in behind the defence, but the former Celtic man's control and finish let him down.

The crowd was getting restless and after Kirk Broadfoot saved Davie Weir's blushes at the back, and when the following counter had broken down it was Kenny Milller who responded to the jeers and groans of the crowd.

The Scotland International chased the ball down and tackled superbly before slipping the perfect ball through for Darcheville. The Frenchman rounded the keeper before seeing his shot cleared of the line!

He should have done better and Rangers should have been in front.

There were a couple of good attacks by Kaunas that rarely led to efforts on goal, and a couple of headers by Lee McCulloch that didn't trouble the Lithuanians goal, saw us to half time.

The second half saw Nacho Novo replace the rather lacklustre Christian Dailly in a move that many would have preferred from the start.

The Spaniard made an immediate impact with his runs down the right hand side, but as Rangers got more and more frustrated so did Novo.

The No.10 was guilty of overdoing it on a few occasions, but he wasn't the only one as Rangers looked blunt.

Kaunas had slipped back behind the ball and who could blame them; a 0-0 result at Ibrox was probably their dream result.

Rangers switced Darcheville for Boyd, but the impitus was already gone and Rangers had already given up to the long ball and shots from distance.

Kenny Miller was also replaced (to a hearty cheer from the crowd) by Andrius Velicka late on, but the former Hearts man made little impact.

It appeared Smith had got it wrong with the team selection as he played the two hard working strikers together and then the two big lads upfront together with no rewards either way.

At the back it was the highly criticised pair of Sasa Papac and Kirk Broadfoot who impressed. Papac ran up and down the left all night and rightly was named man of the match by the Ibrox Crowd.

Broadfoot looks all at sea at right back, but in the centre he has a touch of Carlos Cuellar about him. Calm, Solid and a knack of being in the right place at the right time but never pretty. One must ask how Cuellar would have got on at right back last season?

In midfield Kevin Thomson failed to impress and never stepped into Barry Ferguson's shoes, and boy did they miss their inspirational captain last night.

Thomson must step up to the mark next week in Lithuania if Rangers are to have any chance.

It'll be a tough trip for the boys in blue and they'll need all their away day cunning from last year's UEFA Cup run to salvage this tie.

Remember their is no parachute tournament for being bundled out at this early stage. The Gers need to reach the next round before the UEFA Cup safety net takes its place.

As for Kaunas, well they came they saw, they left with everything they wanted!