Rangers boss Walter Smith was happy to seal a win in their Champions League qualifier against FK Zeta - despite the "strange" circumstances.
The Govan side will take a two-goal lead to Montenegro next week for the return game after an incident-packed encounter which was not without concern to the nervy Light Blues.
However, Rangers right-back Alan Hutton was then sent off after receiving two yellow cards leaving Smith to reshuffle his side around.
But in the 72nd minute midfielder Lee McCulloch, making his competitive debut after signing from Wigan in the summer, headed in number two, helped by substitute Nacho Novo who bundled Zeta defender Milan Radulovic out of the way to allow the ball to trundle over the line.
Smith said: "We are happy to win 2-0 and not lose a goal, which is important in Europe.
"I thought it was a strange type of game. We didn't played well after the first 10 minutes but scored two strange goals.
"We had a few opportunities over and above that and we could have doubled our score but that would have flattered us.
"Away goals are vital in Europe and so I was delighted not to have given up a goal.
"We hope we can go over there and make a few opportunities."
Smith bristled at suggestions that the visitors, who had beaten FBK Kaunas in the last round, were easy pickings.
He said: "I knew it was going to be a hard game, I felt they were a good team.
"I heard them being referred to as minnows but the former Yugoslavia was always known as a country that had good players."
