Walter Smith has struggled to drive Rangers on in the current financial climate
By Thomas McGuigan
Zdravko Kuzmanovic's header at a rain-lashed Ibrox could prove a watershed moment for Walter Smith's Rangers.
Tuesday's 2-0 Champions League defeat by Stuttgart was the Ibrox side's third consecutive home defeat in Group G, leaving them bottom of the table and out of Europe.
In the dugout, Smith looked as though he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The 61-year-old, in his second spell as Rangers manager and out of contract in January, must be wondering what to do next.
Despite an impressive run to the Uefa Cup final, and four pieces of silverware including the SPL title last season, Smith is not immune to criticism from the Ibrox support.
Since returning to Ibrox in 2007 to succeed Paul Le Guen, Smith has been burdened by the unrelenting expectation of fans yearning for domestic silverware and European glory.
SMITH'S EURO RECORD SINCE 2007
30 games in Uefa Cup and Champions League
9 wins (including penalty shoot-out win over Fiorentina)
11 defeats
10 draws
The run to the Uefa Cup final in 2008 characterised Smith's ability to fashion a workmanlike Rangers side: difficult to penetrate, able to withstand long spells of pressure and sneak a goal away from home.
During that run to the final in Manchester, Rangers recorded wins over Werder Bremen, Sporting Lisbon and away to Fiorentina on penalties, before losing to Zenit St Petersburg.
The financial shockwaves caused by defeat by FBK Kaunas in the following season's Champions League qualifiers are still being felt.
Rangers, now under the control of Lloyds Banking Group, are £31m in debt and are looking for a buyer for Sir David Murray's majority shareholding following his decision to step down as chairman.
Against that backdrop, Smith has tried to fashion a side capable of securing domestic honours while still showing tangible signs of progress in Europe.
Madjid Bougherra has been making headlines on and off the pitch
His decision to adopt the same tactics in the Champions League has provoked the ire of fans and pundits alike.
The goalless home draw with Barcelona two years ago was a case in point: Barca's superstar Lionel Messi labelled it "anti-football" but Smith secured what he sought to achieve, namely, stifle their more illustrious opponents and secure a Champions League point.
Yet, when Rangers "open up" they invariably ship goals at an alarming rate.
Smith described the 4-1 home defeat by Unirea Urziceni in the current Champions League campaign as a career low and decided his side would be more cavalier in Rangers' final 'must-win' home game in the group.
The Rangers boss, by his own admission in the aftermath of Tuesday's defeat by Stuttgart, changed his 4-5-1 formation to field three central defenders at the back, and accommodate striker Kris Boyd as part of a front three.
Unfortunately, Rangers failed to muster an effort on target as the rampant Germans scored twice and laid siege to Allan McGregor's goal.
Some Rangers supporters believe the club have failed to strengthen the squad at the right time and point to the fact only Kyle Lafferty and Kenny Miller were added to the squad ahead of the calamitous defeat by FBK Kaunas.
Jerome Rothen was Smith's only arrival over the summer, on a year-long loan deal from Paris St Germain.
And Boyd, who has seldom been given the chance to replicate his free-scoring domestic form on the European stage, is free to talk to interested clubs in January.
Smith's focus now returns to defending the SPL title, where they lead Celtic by a point with a game in hand.
The problem for the manager is that he does not have money to spend at the cash-strapped club, and a question mark remains over the future of defender and prized-asset Madjid Bougherra.
Bougherra, who has been late returning from international duty with Algeria on three occasions, was left on the bench for the defeat by Stuttgart.
In recent seasons Carlos Cuellar and Jean-Alain Boumsong have been sold at a profit and it remains to be seen whether Smith opts to do the same with Bougherra.
The emergence of young Danny Wilson is a timely boost for Smith but with veteran David Weir in the twilight of his career, the defence may need to be strengthened.
The question remains whether Rangers can breathe new life into their squad and if Smith will still be at the helm to oversee it.
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?