UEFA Cup: Glory for Glasgow Rangers as EPL Struggles

"For Werder, it is not a negative thing to be the favorite. The Bundesliga is superior to the Scottish league in all aspects".

Werder Bremen's Hugo Almeida must have woken up choking on those words this morning, after his team were well beaten 2-0 by Rangers last night.

I don't dispute that the Bundesliga is superior, but those words summed up Werder's attitude at Ibrox and they were punished for it.

Ibrox was bouncing last night and Rangers used the crowd to their advantage early on. They looked well up for it, but were unable to get an early goal. Werder settled down as the Ibrox crowd quieted and had a lot of position in the first half, without making many chances.

The Ibrox crowd was getting a little edgy just before half time but they needn't have worried as Daniel Cousin struck from 30 yards. Werder's keeper, Tim Wiese, watched the shot all the way into his hands but managed to produce the European howler of the season by dropping the ball into his own net. Rangers were ahead on the stroke of half time.

Rangers made it 2-0 straight after halftime when Steven Davis latched on to another fumble by Wiese, to prod home.

Werder Bremen were still unable to threaten the Rangers' goal throughout the second half and it was the men in blue who could have added to their tally.

2-0 is however a fantastic result for the Gers, who now travel to Germany with a two goal advantage and without having conceded an away goal.

Sadly that's about the last good news when it comes to the British sides in the competition.

Everton were beaten 2-0 in Florence by Fiorentina. Everton had held on well for 70 minutes despite not being at their best. Two late goals however, have all but ended Everton's UEFA Cup run.

Tottenham Hotspur also disappointed the watching public as they went down 1-0 at home to Dutch giants PSV. Spurs assistant Gus Poyet claims they are capable of a 2-0 win in Holland. I think Tottenham will have to be at their best, if not better to achieve such a result. However with cup maestro Juande Ramos in charge, anything is possible.

Bolton restored a bit of pride in the EPL by holding Sporting Lisbon to a 1-1 draw at the Reebok. Bolton took the lead in the first half thanks to a goal from Gavin McCann. I'm sure the Bolton fans were already dreaming of another 1-0 aggregate win.

They held their lead into the second half, but it was not to be as Sporting levelled the tie. It will be an enormous challenge for Bolton to go Lisbon and get a 1-1 draw to take the game further but after their recent European performances I won't be betting against them.

So after another exciting night of UEFA Cup action, it's the Rangers who carry the Union Jack onwards and upwards, as the EPL trails, wounded, behind!