Nacho no fall guy: Rangers boss Smith won't blame Novo

A goalless draw in the UEFA Cup last-32 first leg at Ibrox leaves next Thursday's second leg balanced in favour of the Greek league leaders.

And Rangers will need to find their cutting edge to secure progress after Novo, starting his first game since November 3, was denied by Greek keeper Mario Galinovic on three gilt-edged occasions.

"I felt before the game it would be a tight match," said Smith. "We created the best opportunities but managed to miss the ones that came our way.

"It was a game I always felt was going to be tight and that's how it turned out. I'm a little bit disappointed we never managed to take the chances that came our way.

"Like all forwards, sometimes you get a situation where they go in for you and sometimes they don't. Unfortunately, all the opportunities we created fell to Nacho and he didn't manage to put one in.

"He has scored a few vital goals for us this season but this wasn't his night."

Opting for a 4-1-4-1 formation, Smith started Lee McCulloch up front on his own - before eventually introducing Daniel Cousin as a substitute.

The Fulham-bound striker was an unexpected inclusion in the squad after FIFA again failed to rule on the saga surrounding Cousin's right to join his third club of the season.

Some Ibrox fans, unhappy with the decision to field a player intent on leaving ahead of Scotland international Boyd, voiced their displeasure during the game and at time up.

Yet Smith insisted: "There is no change in Daniel's situation. If we had known it was going to take this long, we would have kept him playing. From our point of view - and Fulham's - that would have been much more preferable. But we never thought it would take this long for a decision."

Smith remains upbeat on his team's chances of clinching qualification in Athens - where Panathinaikos beat Aberdeen 3-0 in the UEFA Cup group stages. In five European games so far this season, Rangers have scored the away goals they will require next week, managing two in Macedonia, two in Stuttgart and three in Lyon.

"I said before the game that it would be finely balanced and I think it is," added Smith. "Panathinaikos showed tonight they can play well - but they never really threatened us at all until the latter stages of the game when Allan McGregor had a save to make.

"But they showed enough to let everyone know they will be dangerous at home. Equally, though, I feel we have confidence away from home. We scored a few in away games in the Champions League and I think we can do so in Athens."

Panathinaikos coach Jose Peseiro refused to declare his side clear favourites. "It was 0-0 but it's not finished," he said. "It will be a difficult game now between two even teams, but 0-0 away is dangerous. I said before the game I would prefer 1-1. I believe we will win but I await a difficult game next week."