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MARVIN ANDREWS yesterday looked back on Rangers' latest Champions League stumble and put a brave face on it then insisted all is not lost.


But would you expect the big man to do anything else?

Andrews also backed the misfiring Ibrox strikers to recapture their scoring prowess, an ability which has deserted them in recent weeks.

The Trinidadian defender never has a smile far from his face but even he had to admit that life at Ibrox at the moment is far from rosy after Wednesday's goalless draw with Artmedia Bratislava.

Boss Alex McLeish is under increasing pressure. The crowd outside the stadium after the Champions League tie was small but their message was clear - they want the manager out now.

Andrews, a cult hero among the Rangers support,didn't need to be told the punters are not happy.

But the big man with the big heart is adamant Rangers can rescue their European season in the next three Goup HgamesHe said: "We had good chances to get ourselves ahead but their keeper made good saves. But all is not lost. At least we drewand it's all still to play for.

"There was frustration among the players because we created chances to get a goal but the luck wasn't for us.

"I don't think we need to win in Bratislava. However,we are confident. Some people might say that Inter Milan and Porto are already through but anything is possible in football.

"We still have three big games to play. We will go to Bratislava in two weeks and try our best to get a good result but even then we still have Porto away and then Inter at Ibrox.

"Artmedia showed that you can go to Porto and get a result."

If opponents can keep Dado Prso quiet then at the moment there appears to be no other player to step in to be the hero McLeish asked for at the start of the week.

Andrews said: "The lack of goals is not getting to the guys. We have great strikers and they are just going through a wee bad spell at the moment.

"The ball just isn't falling for them or going into the back of the net. It happens.

"We are not going to give up. Sometimes in football you have a spell when things don't quite go for you but I know our strikers are capable of getting the goals we need.

"I wouldn't say it was an angry dressing room on Wednesday but there was bitter disappointment because we had the opportunities to score and didn't take them.

"It's now difficult because we have to play Bratislava on their own ground and then we have another away game in Porto and only one more match at home, against Inter Milan.

"It's not impossible for us to pick up points in those away games. We just need to keep working hard as a unit and look forward to our next Champions League game.

"Porto started with two bad results but they have changed everything in one game so we can't worry about just picking up points in Bratislava - we can take points from any of our remaining games.

"Probably Artmedia will come at us more and that could work in our favour. That would give us opportunities to hit them on the break."

The month of November is going to be the most important spell of McLeish's managerial career. Rangers have two away games at Celtic Park - one in the CIS Cup - a trip to Easter Road plus the away Champions League games in Bratislava and Oporto.

Andrews could become a massive player for Rangers depending on the fitness of Sotirios Kyrgiakos, who he replaced in the second-half, but his World Cup play-off against Bahrain is scheduled for the middle of these fixtures and he will miss at least the Old Firm cup match.

He said: "I'm just going to keep praying anda sk God for strength to get me through all these games and all this travelling. This is what I live for, to play football. I have been given this opportunity and every time I get the chance, I will play".

"I have World Cup games and Champions League games and it doesn't get any bigger in football. This is what I've wanted since I was a little boy"God gives me strength so I'll be all right. "Missing the Old Firm matches will be difficult but my country is trying to qualify for the World Cup.

"It is unfortunate that I'll have to sacrifice one for the other. I'm sure we have the players to get a result against Celtic."

Andrews may be sure. He is one of the few Rangers men who is.