Rusty Rangers hit by an early strike. Europe preparations live up to Smith's forecast

The FC Copenhagen striker, Mate Sestan, scored in that ninth minute while Rangers were still attempting to get to the pace of the game.

Afterwards, manager Walter Smith admitted: ``We showed some signs of rustiness - which was what I expected. They did not because they have been playing regularly, including matches in the Inter Toto Cup.

``That showed up in the early stages of the match. We started slowly and it was only after the first 25 minutes that we began to look ourselves.

``It was then that we started to make chances, and then that we started to put passes together.

``We knew it would be difficult here, but that is why we chose these games. We wanted to play against strong opposition and that is what happened tonight. It will be the same against Aalborg on Thursday, but that is something the players need as we build towards our European Cup preliminary game.''

Everything that Rangers do at the moment is aimed towards success against the Russian champions next month. That game has its own difficulties, its own problems, and manager Smith wants his players to be focused and 100% ready for that particular challenge.

It was midway through the first half before Rangers began to make any impression on the Danes.

In 27 minutes, for example, Charlie Miller broke through but somehow wasted his opportunity.

Then Stuart McCall played a clever one-two with Brian Laudrup, but sent his shot dipping over the bar from 25 yards.

Before half-time Gordon Durie was booked and, after 44 minutes, Rangers carved out the best opening of the game when Durie, McCall and Laudrup all combined before the Dane crossed and allowed Charlie Miller a free header at goal.

Unfortunately for the youngster, FC Copenhagen's Finnish goalkeeper, Antti Niemi, was able to hold his effort.

Despite losing that early goal, the Scottish champions did move back into a more normal game, sitting patiently and then pushing forward into attack. The kind of game, in fact, that they will be asked to play against the Russians.

They could have scored before half-time and they did have other chances when Smith began to change his side around in the second half.

Derek McInnes appeared first after 59 minutes to take over from Charlie Miller who had suffered the effects of a heavy tackle.

Then, nine minutes later, Ally McCoist, Eric Bo Andersson, and Greg Shields came on to take over from Gordon Durie, Brian Laudrup and John Brown.

Within two minutes of these changes, the Ibrox side almost equalised.

Captain Richard Gough broke up a Danish attack in his own half, moved forward, accepted a return pass and then crossed from the left for Anderssen to shoot. But the ball struck McCoist, just short of the line before the Danes scrambled it away.

Smith said later: ``As long as that doesn't happen in competition, I'll be happy.''

McCoist had a shot saved by the keeper soon afterwards and Gough saw a header fly too high.

But the best chance came with a long range free kick from Lars Hojer, a second half substitute for the Copenhagen side, who hammered a ball against Andy Goram's crossbar.

Smith was clearly disappointed at losing, but happy at the performance, for instance, of his Swedish acquisition, Joachim Bjorklund.

The defender looked comfortable, and commanding, as he settled into the Rangers defensive formation.

Still, that goal hurt, just as defeat hurt, and now the Ibrox men will be looking to alter things when they reach Aalborg tomorrow .

By then the other close season signing, the German Jorg Albertz, will be ready to play.

FC COPENHAGEN - Niemi, Martin Nielsen, Falch, Larsen, Sorensen, Goldbeek, Uldbjerg, Morten Nielsen, Schonnemann, Birn, Sestan. Substitutes - Zaza, Michael Nielsen, Lojer, Hallum, Claus Nielsen.

RANGERS - Goram, Cleland, Brown, Gough, Petric, Bjorklund, Durie, Ferguson, Miller, McCall, Laudrup. Substitutes - Durrant, Snelders, McCoist, Wright, McInnes, Andersen, Shields.

Referee - Jorn West Larsen (Denmark).