Schoolboy stuff cost us dearly in Stuttgart, concedes frustrated Ranger Thomson

Yet a point would have been a rich reward for sterling resistance on German soil. The knowledge that all three were surrendered by virtue of what midfielder Kevin Thomson described as 'schoolboy' defending soured the positives of a dogged, creative display in the Gottlieb-Daimler Stadium.

"We're disappointed because we felt the points were there for the taking," said the former Hibs player after Ciprian Marica's strike five minutes from time won the game. "It's never nice getting beaten at any time - especially not when we feel we could have won or got at least a point.

"It wasn't the best football game in the world but it was quite open. From a tactical point of view, we weren't quite as good as we would have expected to be.

"But we would have taken the position we're now in before the group games started because we're close to making it to the last 16. We conceded sloppy goals here, however, the first one from Cacau especially. Barry (Ferguson), Charlie (Adam)and I switched off a little bit, which is schoolboy stuff. That's bitterly disappointing, especially as it came deep into injury-time in the first half.

"Had we gone in 1-0 up, it might have been different. But you need to take results like this on the chin and hope to put things right in the next game.

"It was just such a bad time to lose. Conceding at any time is hard to take but it's worse when you feel as though you're in command. We felt comfortable.

"Stuttgart scored on the stroke of half-time and that gave them a massive lift coming out for the second half."

For goalscorer Adam, it was a night of mixed emotions. The Scotland 'B' international appeared as a first-half substitute for the injured Lee McCulloch and scored with his first touch of the ball, diverting Carlos Cuellar's knockdown into the net from six yards.

It was, however, scant consolation for a defeat - albeit one which makes little difference to the overall group scenario.

"I scored with my first touch but I would rather have got the result," he said. "It's great to score my second goal in the Champions League this season but the result is the most important bit.

"In the end, it wouldn't have mattered, anyway. It would always have come down to the last game and that's a cup final for us now. We are still in the competition and, if we get the draw at home against Lyon, then it's some achievement for us. We will look forward to it when it comes.

"Fair play to Stuttgart, they have picked up since we beat them at Ibrox and they looked a good side tonight."

The timing of Stuttgart's equaliser effectively changed the game following a first half in which Rangers played the more creative football, missing a hatful of golden chances.

At 2- 1 down after an Allan McGregor error of sorts from Pavel Pardo's long-range effort, the Ibrox side battled back once again with Ferguson's equaliser. It was the kind of stubborn determination they will need against the French champions when a point will suffice.

As Thomson observed: "We have the character in the team. We have a group full of winners, with everyone in the dressing room striving for success. We're all working hard as individuals and as a team, doing everything the manager tells us to do. So far this season, we have done that pretty well as a team, yet sloppiness cost us here.

"But we have to be confident going into the Lyon game. It will be a massive occasion. It would be a fantastic achievement to go through but we're still faced with one more hurdle now. It's a big hurdle to jump and we'll need to be at the top of our game as a team.

"That's the only way we'll progress into the next round. We beat them in France but they are a fantastic side who will make it difficult.

"A draw is no good to them now, so, hopefully we'll get the result we feel we deserve from this campaign. You need only look at the group and the teams involved, yet we've done well so far.

"Stuttgart were almost discarded because they didn't have any points before this game but they were the German champions last year and they play quality teams every week. We competed with them here and actually felt they were there for the taking in the end.

"Take nothing away from them, though, because they are a very decent side."