Crisis-hit Rangers face must win task in Romania

AFP - 4 November 2009 08:15

Unirea Urzicena´s Marius Ion Bilasco (left) and George Galamaz celebrate the scoring of their 3rd goal against Rangers during their Champions League, Group G match at Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow, Scotland, on October 20. The Romanian champions dished out a humiliating 4-1 defeat to Walter Smith´s side in their 1st leg clash and hold a three point advantage over the ailing Scottish giants.

BUCHAREST (AFP) - Steven Davis says Rangers are returning to top form as they head to Bucharest needing to beat unheralded Romanian side Unirea Urziceni if they are to retain any realistic hopes of progressing in the competition.

The Romanian champions dished out a humiliating 4-1 defeat to Walter Smith's side when they visited Ibrox in last month's Group G clash and hold a three point advantage over the ailing Scottish giants with three matches remaining.

Rangers have just a point from three matches and should Unirea beat them then it is all over for them in this season's competition.

The Unirea result was one of the worst results in the Glasgow club's European history coming on the back of an identical defeat to Spanish outfit Sevilla.

With Sevilla running away with the group Rangers still have the chance to claim second place in Group G, although third spot and a place in the Europa League is a more realistic target for the Scottish champions.

Smith has problems aplenty, though, with Madjid Bougherra and Pedro Mendes joining Maurice Edu and Kirk Broadfoot on the treatment table.

Lee McCulloch who has missed the previous two games with a thigh strain is also a doubt so 17-year-old Danny Wilson could continue to partner veteran David Weir in the centre of defence.

The Rangers manager was relieved his squad didn't pick up any new injuries in Sunday's match against Dundee United, which was called off at half-time because of a waterlogged pitch with the Old Firm side leading 1-0.

And Northern Ireland midfielder Davis, who scored in their abandoned match at Tannadice, believes after a sticky period for the club, both on and off the pitch, the players are showing signs of the form they produced to win last season's Scottish Premier League title.

"I think we are getting back to the way we are capable of playing," said Davis.

"I think we are working harder off the ball as well, pressing teams and making it more difficult for them.

"We have shown that in the last couple of games but we have to keep that improvement going because there is still a lot of room to improve as a team."

Rangers came in for a lot of criticism following their thrashing from Unirea although worries about the club's perilous financial position have since dominated the headlines.

And Davis knows what progression in European competition could mean to the Ibrox financial bosses.

"It's a massive game for us. If we are to have any chance of qualifying, we need to go out there and get the win," he said.

"But we know from playing them that they are a well-organised team and a good side.

"Hopefully a bit of luck will go our way and we can go there and get a result."

Unirea warmed up for Wednesday's game with a 3-2 win over Craiova thanks to a last minute goal.

Former Chelsea legend Dan Petrescu's side, who claimed their first ever win in European competition at Ibrox, sit seventh in a tight league race, although they are just one point off the leaders.

The tie has been moved to Steaua Bucharest's stadium as Unirea's Tineretului has a capacity of only 7,000 and is not big enough to host Champions League games.