Walter Smith admits Rangers are in danger of being eliminated from the Uefa Cup when they travel to Panathinaikos.
Rangers boss warns of 'dangerous' Panathinaikos
Walter Smith admits Rangers are in danger of being eliminated from the Uefa Cup when they travel to Panathinaikos for the second leg of their last 32 tie.
Rangers manager Smith saw his side held 0-0 in the first leg at Ibrox on Wednesday to leave the Scottish Premier League club requiring a positive performance in Athens next Thursday to progress.
And Smith is well aware of the threat posed by the Greek Super League leaders, but is confident his side - who narrowly missed out on a place in the latter stages of the UEFA Champions League - can book a place in the last 16.
"Panathinaikos played well and they had some nice possession of the ball," said Smith
"They didn't really threaten us until the latter stages but they showed enough to suggest they will be dangerous at home.
Cousin move
"However, we have managed to score a few goals away from home in the Champions League and we can do so again in Athens. The game will be a finely balanced one."
Smith introduced striker Daniel Cousin, who is awaiting sanctioning from Fifa regarding his protracted move to Fulham, in the second half as he went in search of a winner.
And Smith insists he will continue to play the forward until the move to Craven Cottage is given the all-clear by Fifa.
"There is no change, the situation is the same," added Smith.
"If we knew it would take this long, we would have played him before now and kept playing him, which would probably have been preferable from our own point of view and that of Fulham.
Novo blame
"Like all forwards, sometimes you get situations where they go in and sometimes they don't."
Meanwhile, Nacho Novo has called for Rangers fans to blame him for the stalemate after the Spanish striker missed a host of chances.
"If anybody is to blame, it's me," said Novo. "Luck wasn't really on our side and that was disappointing. I thought the team was doing really well but these things happen in football.
"Rangers were the better team and should have won the game but it didn't happen and everything is still open. I think we still have a good chance over there and a win or a draw will take us through."
