McCulloch takes hearts from draw

01 November 2010 20:00

Lee McCulloch insists Rangers will draw confidence from their opening-day draw against Manchester United as they take to the road again in the Champions League against Valencia.

Walter Smith's ultra-defensive 5-4-1 formation may have prompted mixed reviews but had the desired effect as the Scottish champions left Old Trafford with a precious point after earning a goalless draw against the Group C favourites.

"We have taken confidence from all the games in the Champions League so far," he said. "We have done well with a different formation, we have gelled well in that formation and put on good performances at times. We have also looked sound defensively. We go into this game with confidence and we look forward to it."

Since then, the system has helped them take all three points against Turkish champions Bursaspor and a draw that could very easily have been a victory against Valencia had they taken their chances at Ibrox.

They now face the Spaniards at the Mestalla in a match that could go some way to determining second place in the group and, with five points secured already, McCulloch sees no reason to approach the match with trepidation.

Rangers spurned several chances against Valencia in Glasgow and, with the onus on their hosts to come out and attack on home soil in this match, McCulloch believes the Ibrox side could snatch a win this time.

He said: "Being the home team, I think they will be looking to take the game to us and set up to attack a bit more than they did at Ibrox.

"With the formation we have been playing, we have shown we can defend and nick a goal at the other end.

"We know it's going to be tough. They are a quality team and we just hope it goes okay on the night."

Source: PA