Smith issues Rangers rallying call

Walter Smith has warned his Rangers FC players they must raise their game ahead of their UEFA Champions League second qualifying round decider at FBK Kaunas.

'Brighter and sharper'
The Lithuanian title-holders held Rangers to a goalless draw at Ibrox last Wednesday and Smith knows there is no margin for error with last season's beaten UEFA Cup finalists facing a potential European exit should they fail to progress to the third qualifying round. "We have to get up and playing, there's no getting away from that, and we must do it very quickly," said Smith. "It was evident in the first half hour of the game on Wednesday that we weren't up there. Tuesday is an important match and we have to be brighter and sharper."

'Well-beaten'
Smith's preparations have not been helped by a 4-0 friendly loss to Liverpool FC on Saturday, but the Rangers manager does not believe the severity of the defeat will dent the players' confidence ahead of the trip to the S. Darius & S. Girénas Stadium.  "We didn't take a lot from the game [against Liverpool] apart from the fact we were well beaten," added Smith, who is likely to be without Spain defender Carlos Cuéllar who is recovering from a calf injury.

Team spirit
"I don't think the morale aspect has got anything to do with it. It was a friendly game, and I don't think the morale will be a problem. The problem is getting back to a level of play that will allow us to compete in a better manner. It's just a fact we have to face that we are not reaching the same level as we did in the early part of last season."

'Very good result'
Meanwhile, Kaunas midfielder Linas Pilibaitis is backing himself to score the winner and knock Rangers out of the UEFA Champions League at the first hurdle. "Rangers may have a big reputation having reached the UEFA Cup final but we found out last Wednesday they are just normal players," said the former Heart of Midlothian FC player. "A 0-0 draw at Ibrox was a very good result for us because we will win in Kaunas. I really believe we will win 1-0. Maybe I will be lucky enough to score the winner."