Rangers grabbed a deserved a point against a lacklustre Manchester United in a scoreless draw at Old Trafford in the opening game of Group C of the Champions League. Manchester United failed to come to terms with the defensive tactics of Rangers and looked at a loss for ideas as the game progressed.
By the end of the game the tactical honours had gone to Walter Smith who had initially been concerned over how his team would perform if United played to their full potential.
On a rain swept night Smith must have been surprised to find that threat never became a reality.
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson made ten changes from the side that drew at Everton at the weekend. And at the end of a disappointing first 45 minutes for the home side it looked like the players had only just met.
Wayne Rooney was back in the team but was fairly anonymous apart from one break into the penalty area but he hesitated over whether to pass or shoot and the moment was gone.
Darren Fletcher was United's most influential player but even he could not find a way through the massed ranks of the Rangers rearguard.
With three central defenders and an isolated lone striker the Scottish champions clearly set out their stall for the evening.
Last season in the Champions League Rangers only managed two points from the group games and they clearly had no intention of relinquishing one point too easily.
And for the most part it was working as only a Javier Hernandez header and a Darron Gibson shot from distance caused Walter Smith's men any concern.
For the most part Gers keeper Allan McGregor was untroubled and the atmosphere at Old Trafford was all being created by the 3,500 Rangers supporters gathered in the corner.
United may have enjoyed most of the possession but were too slow in their build up play allowing Rangers to funnel back and defend in depth.
The second half was just as scrappy with United continuing to be frustrated by the visitor's dogged defence. Gibson volleyed narrowly wide just after the break and then Sir Alex Ferguson's night got worse as Antonio Valencia was stretchered off with what appeared to be a serious ankle injury.
For a few minutes the Old Trafford crowd found their voice but soon the game resumed its previous pattern.
The Reds fans were streaming away long before the six minutes of added time had ended when, ironically, the host's enjoyed a period of concerted pressure but overall Rangers deserved to hang on for a superb point.
As for United questions will be asked over Ferguson's decision to make such wholesale changes to the team.
Man Utd scorers: Rangers scorers:
Referee: Olegario Benquerenca (POR) Assistant referees: Jose Cardinal (POR), Joao Santos (POR) Fourth official: Vasco Santos (POR)
Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester Attendance: 74,408
MAN UTD 29 Kuszczak 05 Ferdinand 06 Brown 12 Smalling 20 Fabio Da Silva (Evans 75) 13 Park Ji-Sung (Owen 75) 24 Fletcher 25 Valencia (Giggs 63 yellow card) 28 Gibson 10 Rooney 14 Hernandez Substitutes 01 Van der Sar, 22 O'Shea, 23 Evans, 08 Anderson, 11 Giggs, 07 Owen, 27 Macheda
RANGERS 01 McGregor (yellow card) 03 Weir 04 Broadfoot 05 Papac 16 Whittaker 24 Bougherra 06 McCulloch (yellow card) 07 Edu 08 Davis 09 Miller (Lafferty 81) 14 Naismith
Substitutes 25 Alexander, 12 Foster, 20 Weiss, 11 Lafferty, 19 Beattie, 29 Little, 41 Hutton
