IT was an Ibrox scoreline synonymous with an amazing European run that spanned some 19 games and carried Rangers to a Uefa Cup Final.

IT was an Ibrox scoreline synonymous with an amazing European run that spanned some 19 games and carried Rangers to a Uefa Cup Final.

But, as their disgruntled support shuffled out of the stadium last night after a stuffy 0-0 first leg draw in this crucial Champions League qualifier against FBK Kaunas, they were left to ponder just what kind of future this season's run will hold.

The immediate poser, of course, was whether Rangers right now have enough about them to travel to the former Soviet satellite state next Tuesday night and get the job done.

Can they avoid what would be an unmitigated disaster in terms of prestige - and certainly finance - and get through to the third and final qualification stage on this perilous path to the group stage proper?

On the evidence of what Kaunas had last night, bar a couple of first-half opportunities mainly down to self- inflicted mistakes, it would go down as one of the worst nights in Rangers' history if they fail to progress next week and tumble out of Europe for the season before the first week of August is over.

These are indeed worrying times not only for the support, but also for Walter Smith.

His team is disjointed, bereft of quality, width and creativity, and the predictability of their attempts to get a goal last night was numbing.

Fears fuelled by the absence of key players like Barry Ferguson and Carlos Cuellar, the damaging loss of the pace in wide areas after injuries to DaMarcus Beasley, Chris Burke and Stevie Naismith, were all compounded on a night when Smith's side could have played on their new pitch until midnight and probably never have found the net.

The Lithuanians, at times so comfortable it was unbeliev-able, must have struggled to come to terms with their fortune.

They surely expected a far tougher night at the office, but the spells of pressure were sporadic and few genuine chances were created by the home side.

When they did, the best of them fell to Kenny Miller, this figure upon which so many eyes are trained. As it was, this was a typically Miller-type performance.

His running into the channels was excellent, his work-rate as always unquestionable. But Miller's downfall is his ability to finish, and this is why his arrival back at Ibrox - more than the fact he turned out for Celtic a year ago - has caused such dissension.

Had he chosen the better option and gone with his left foot when played in by Charlie Adam in the 19th minute, he would have scored his first goal second time around. It was a crucial moment in the match as, even that early, play had begun to suggest it would be a tight affair.

Miller, as he often does, went for another choice, and tried to clip Adam's through ball over the keeper with his right foot. The effort was weak, and the danger was cleared.

Then, in the 63rd minute, he was fed in by Steven Whittaker, just about the only thing the full-back did right all night.

His shot was powerful enough, but too straight, and the Kaunas keeper parried the ball to safety.

Again this was a massive point in the game. Miller needed a goal as much as Rangers did, but he was one of the better ones on a night when the stadium groaned without going into full meltdown.

That will, however, come if Rangers do not shake off these early-season blues, starting in Kaunas next week. This is as dangerous a banana skin as it gets, and Kaunas will feel they are more than capable of causing an upset.

Rangers, though, should have too much and, if they can score, the game will open up and suit them getting at what looked a quite static defence.

Smith conceded afterwards that his side has had problems in terms of the midfield area, and the deficiencies in that department are quite obvious.

Ferguson's loss, for all his critics, is quite massive. He is the one player who can take the ball and lift his head going forward, pick a pass, and he has to be replaced quickly.

Rangers have no-one who can just take the ball and make things happen. Smith's summer spending has centred on three strikers, adding to the numbers he already had in that area. Five of them, Miller, Jean-Claude Darcheville, Kris Boyd, Andrius Velicka and Nacho Novo, were all on the pitch at various stages but couldn't find a goal.

And so the scoreline that Rangers banked against Barcelona, Panathinaikos, Sporting Lisbon and Fiorentina last season was repeated. As Smith acknowledged, it's dangerous to assume that, just because they mastered the art of away legs last season, Rangers can do the same this time around.

They will need to drastically improve on last night and get a fresh injection from the transfer market, regardless of what opposition tumbles out of the hat tomorrow in the third round drawn in Nyon.

If they don't, they could run the risk of not even reaching that stage. And, for Smith, that is just unthinkable.

NEED TO KNOW

By Thomas Jordan

Was it a good game? Not particularly. It lacked quality as Rangers went through the motions.

Rangers' best player? Kevin Thomson was one who emerged with pass marks. Tried to inject some urgency.

And Kaunas' top man? Rafael Ledesma was expected to star - and the Brazilian didn't disappoint.

Referee watch: Dutchman Kevin Blom allowed play to flow and it was an easy enough game for him to handle.

Who is up next? It's Liverpool on Saturday at Ibrox as Fernando Torres and Robbie Keane look to turn on the style.

Talking point: How badly Walter Smith needs to sign midfield reinforcements after his team toiled against the Lithuanian champions.