I feel we can score a goal in the two legs and go through into the Champions’ League proper he said Copenhagen

“I feel we can score a goal in the two legs and go through into the Champions’ League proper,” he said “Copenhagen are a good, compact side. They play 4-4-2, have explosive players up front and have experienced midfielders.”Gone are the days when Scottish teams were expected to wipe the floor with teams from Scandinavia. That will mean that the new signings Nuno Capucho and Henning Berg will have to wait for their debuts, although both will be on the bench for the first time.The Danish champions have played three league games so far and also demolished the Maltese amateurs, Sliema Wanderers, 10-1 to set up the showdown with Rangers.But McLeish was confident that his squad could come out on top over the two legs. So, with £10m at stake, a good result in the first leg at Ibrox is imperative.”This is the biggest game because this is now,” McLeish said. “And in a couple of weeks’ time I might be asked the same question for the second game and say yes again.”McLeish is set to stick with the same starting XI that beat Kilmarnock 4-0 on Saturday in the opening game of the league season. However, he has yet to steer the club through a single European tie and must do so now to get into the group stages of the Champions’ League.Never before has the revenue from the group stage been so important to the debt-laden club, who have shed more players in the summer than they have recruited.

“We closed all the issues about the game in the dressing-room on Saturday,” he said.. Alex McLeish said tonight’s Champions’ League qualifying tie with FC Copenhagen represents the most important fixture he has faced as manager of Rangers. “His record in Europe is pretty good so it’s great to have him back.”The Hungarian champions have been labelled a physical side by HJK Helsinki, their opponents in the previous round. But one of Europe’s most experienced referees has been put in charge of tonight’s game – Kim Milton Nielsen, the man who sent off David Beckham during the 1998 World Cup finals.MTK Hungaria were beaten 2-1 at home by top-flight newcomers Pecs at the weekend, but their coach, Sandor Egervari, said the defeat means nothing. But Lennon and his team-mates are determined to reach the lucrative group stages of the tournament when they face the Hungarian side in the Ferenc Puskas Stadium here.”It’s a massive game for us,” he said. “I know we had a good run in the Uefa Cup last season but this is a blue riband event and the Champions’ League is the place to be. We missed out on it last year so we really must make inroads into that this season if we can.”We learned from the Basle game last season and there will be no complacency this time, that’s for sure.”Lennon believes the return of the striker Chris Sutton, who is serving a five-game domestic ban, will be a big bonus “Sutton is a big player for us,” he said.

Tony Popovic was sent off after the interval for violent conduct and neither side could muster another goal with penalties going Palace’s way, 3-1.. Neil Lennon believes last season’s Champions’ League defeat by Basle will ensure there is no complacency here against MTK Hungaria tonight. Dougie Freedman followed up his hat-trick in the win at Burnley with the opener but Crystal Palace were made to fight at Plainmoor, with David Graham levelling for the Third Division side midway through the second half. They beat Second Division Grimsby 3-2 thanks to a last-minute winner at Belle Vue, where Grimsby were cruising until they had Des Hamilton and Marcel Cas were sent off.Crystal Palace needed a penalty shoot-out to beat Third Division Torquay after a difficult match for the Londoners. Emmerson Boyce briefly gave the Football League newcomers hope when he equalised with an own goal.Doncaster, promoted to the Football League with Yeovil, enjoyed much better fortunes.

That set up an eventful game, which ended 2-1 in Scunthorpe’s favour thanks to Paul Hayes’ two goals. Jorge Leit?weighed in with a second for the hosts and the home side shut up shop to win 2-1.Oldham’s trip to Scunthorpe was marred by an ugly spell midway through the first half which saw Darren Sheridan and Danny Boshell sent off for the Latics and Matthew Sparrow dismissed for the hosts. The Blades were put under intense pressure in the early moments by the hosts but withstood that and went ahead through Jack Lester. Macclesfield refused to lie down, though, and Danny Whitaker levelled just before half-time. Neil Warnock’s side sneaked ahead from the penalty spot, Lester scoring his second with just three minutes left.Paul Merson’s fine start to life as a Walsall player continued with the former England international equalising Craig Russell’s opener for Carlisle at the Bescot Stadium. Nayron Nosworthy hit the winner with four minutes left as the Gills won 2-1, despite Tommy Johnson’s red card.Sheffield United were made to work hard for their 2-1 win at Macclesfield. The Rams scored first through Ian Taylor but Jonathan Stead equalised for Huddersfield before John Thorrington put the Terriers through with a 70th-minute winner.Gillingham’s participation in the second round looked doubtful when Justin Walker put Cambridge ahead after 28 minutes, but John Hills equalised midway through the second half.