Smith wary of Werder return
07 Mar 2008 - 07:37:52
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- Smith wary of Werder return
Walter Smith has warned Rangers to be wary of a Werder Bremen backlash after defeating the German side 2-0 in the first leg of a UEFA Cup round of 16 tie at Ibrox.
Goals from Daniel Cousin and Steven Davis put the Glasgow club within touching distance of the quarter-finals, but Smith has called for concentration ahead of next week's second leg in Germany.
He said: "You don't have a side who retain the level of consistency that they do in a very difficult and competitive league and not have a level of pride.
"Their pride will be dented a little bit going back to their own ground where they don't lose very many games.
"It's going to be a big, big match. I've been there before a few years ago and I think we got over the halfway line three times and managed to win the game.
"It might be like that again next Thursday."
On Rangers' performance, he added: "We are delighted with the result and we had to work extremely hard to get it.
"Scoring just before half-time was a big factor for us, as was scoring so early in the second half.
"It was also important not to concede a goal. We will need that clean sheet next week, there is no doubt about that and it's a big factor in European matches."