Smith: Flattered by late draw

Walter Smith admits Rangers were lucky to get a 1-1 draw against Osasuna.

Walter Smith admits Rangers were lucky to get a 1-1 draw out of their Uefa Cup last 16 tie against Osasuna at Ibrox.

The former Scotland coach has helped turn the team around since replacing Paul Le Guen at the helm earlier this season.

But The Light Blues did not perform against the Spanish strugglers on Thursday night, deservedly falling behind to a Raul Garcia header in the first half.

Goalkeeper Stefan Klos was forced to pull off a number of good saves to keep his side in the match, before Brahim Hemdani stepped up to spare Smith's blushes with an injury-time equaliser.

Having been booed off at half-time, Smith was frank in his assessment of the performance:  "I was disappointed in the way we played. We were flattered by the result.

"We didn't reach the levels that we have done and we were fortunate. There is great disappointment in the dressing room because in every aspect we were poor.

"The goal from Hemdani obviously puts us in a better position but we have to show we can play better than that.

"We beat Livorno in Italy this season so we will need a performance like that again. I just hope that there is no repeat of that performance tonight."

Captain Barry Ferguson has been ruled out of the second leg after picking up a second booking, but Klos' return to start a match for the first time in 11 months proved the highlight for the coach.

"There was lots of conjecture before the game but I was confident that he would do well," Smith said of his veteran keeper. "Maybe the concerns should have been elsewhere.

"I was pleased for him - his saves kept us in the game."