CRITICS have been lining up to put the boot into Rangers during their remarkable run to the Uefa Cup Final- too defensive; too negative; too boring.

Such are the accusations levelled at the Ibrox club on the road to Manchester - much to the annoyance of their army of loyal supporters.

But Davie Weir, the veteran centre-half who has been the cornerstone of their success at home and in Europe, is totally unconcerned at such flak.

In fact, the hugely experienced Scotland international takes the abuse as a compliment that he and his fellow defenders are doing their jobs properly.

And he'd be quite content if the Gers were slaughtered for sitting back and securing another shut-out against Zenit St Petersburg - just as long as they get the silverware.

"Football isn't all about goals,"

the 38-year-old argued today as he finalised preparations for one of the biggest games of his career.

"If it was, you would get matches being won 25-24 and I don't think people would enjoy the game very much.

"Defence is a big part of the game. It is a skill in itself. It is something that I personally, and all the boys in the team, work extremely hard to get right.

"I don't think the criticism is justified. To be honest, I think it is coming from people who don't know an awful lot about the game.

"Playing in Europe has been a great experience. I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute. Hopefully, we can enjoy one more good match at the back and lift the Uefa Cup."

Weir has a good point. Nobody with any appreciation of the beautiful game can fail to have been impressed by the performances of him and his fellow central defensive linchpin Carlos Cuellar.

In eight Uefa Cup matches played since February, they have conceded only two goals and have kept six clean sheets.

One of those blots on an otherwise impeccable copybook was the long-range wonder goal by Yannis Goumas for Panathinaikos in the second leg over in Greece.

Rangers, who also stopped Barcelona and Lyon scoring in the Champions League, have a defensive track record of which any club would be proud.

Weir, enjoying an Indian summer in his career at the club he supported as a boy, having been plucked from the reserves at Everton by former boss Smith last year, feels Cuellar has been pivotal to their success.

The newly-crowned SFWA Player of the Year has been a sensation since being snapped up for just £2.5m from La Liga cracks Osasuna last summer.

Davie enthused: "Carlos has been fantastic. He has shown he is a top, top player. In fact, I don't think he's put a foot wrong. He deserves all the credit and awards he has been getting. He has worked hard for them.

"He is a nice guy as well, which I think is important for team spirit. He will be a key man for us once again against Zenit. I am sure he will be up for the challenge."

Cuellar himself has benefited greatly from his partnership with an evergreen player who has defied his advancing years to play 60 competitive matches for club and country this season.

Weir, who is out of contract in the summer and has yet to make a decision about his future, agrees that the unexpected chance of playing for his childhood heroes has ensured his enthusiasm for football remains.

Davie grinned: "I try to look after myself properly, as all good professional players should do, eat the right things, rest at the right times. I don't have any secret formula at all. There is no divine intervention involved. I just concentrate on making sure I am ready for the next game.

"No doubt about it, it has been nice for me, at this stage in my career, to play for the club I have always supported. Getting the chance to play European football was just a bonus. But it wasn't a factor in me moving to Ibrox."

Despite his many years in the game, the 60-times capped Weir admits he has little knowledge of Russian football, or of the Zenit team.

But he is confident that if they get their preparations right, as they did against Panathinaikos, Werder Bremen, Sporting Lisbon and Fiorentina, they will be able to upset the odds once more and triumph.

Davie stressed: "The priority when you play in these sort of games is always to make sure that our own house is in order. We will take to the field in good condition and ready to execute a game plan.

"It has worked for us in the past and it can work again."