Rangers teetering on a Champions League tightrope after 0-0 draw

Walter Smith's men will have to rely on the away-day durability that carried them to last season' s UEFA Cup Final after being unable to find a breakthrough against a Kaunas side watched from the directors' box by Vladimir Romanov.

Close but no cigar: Rangers striker Kenny Miller can only look on as a chance goes awry against FBK Kaunas.

With the price of failure being an exit from all European competition before the SPL season starts, the stakes are huge for the return leg.

Rangers enjoyed an incredible 19-match continental odyssey in the previous campaign, but could now face the prospect of their current run ending after just two outings.

Kenny Miller, whose name was booed prior to his competitive debut for the club second time around, and Jean-Claude Darcheville both saw first half opportunities cleared off the line but, without the influence of injured skipper Barry Ferguson, the lack of creativity was apparent.

'We feel as if we're capable of winning the game in Kaunas,' Smith said trying to remain positive.

'We shouldn't continue to look back on last season. We need to look forward. Just because we did something last season, it doesn't mean we'll do the same this time.

'We have that confidence. But I will have to point out to the players that, because we had success at that last season, it's not automatic that it will happen this season.

We just have to put in a performance that matches that kind of confidence. If we can get ourselves in front over there, we can kick on. I felt we started the game quite slowly. I expected to start with more pace and better passing.

'Give credit to Kaunas, they defended well and set their stall out. On the break, they were always capable of getting an opportunity. I felt that, just before half-time, we had our best spell. We imposed ourselves on the game, played at a better tempo and created some half-chances.

'They went back in the second half and defended very well, restricting us to few clear-cut chances. We played in a very similar manner to Kaunas in a lot of away games last season. They made it very hard for us.

'It's not an excuse for us to say they were sharper. We have to be quicker. It's awkward coming in at this time of the year but, with the importance of this fixture, we needed to start brighter.'

Kaunas coach Jose Couceiro, who spoke with Romanov before kick-off, maintained that his team were still the underdogs and added: 'Rangers are the favourites, I said that before this game. Now, after the first match, I still think they are favourites.

'Last season, I remember Rangers having four games here at Ibrox that finished in draws, then Rangers went on to win the second leg and go through. Against PSV, Sporting, Fiorentina - they always came through in the second match.

'I expected them to cause us more problems tonight, different problems. The key was the energy levels of our team. It's possible that the second leg will be settled in the last 20 minutes, so Rangers' experience will be an advantage.’