BEFORE a ball was kicked in Group G, Porto were the favourites to finish top of the table and qualify for the knockout rounds.

Rangers did brilliantly to get through the preliminary stages but we were in Pot Four and we weren’t expected to get through ahead of Feyenoord and Young Boys.

Anything that Steven Gerrard’s side can pick up in Portugal this evening would be great and if we could come away with a result that would certainly be a real boost at the halfway stage of the section.

Rangers should never have lost in Bern last time out, but we did.

Naivety cost us dear that night and we can’t make the same mistakes this time out because Porto will punish you.

Rangers still aren’t being tipped to qualify but I know the fans will fancy their chances. If they can play well on the night, of course they have a shout of getting a result in Porto or of accumulating enough points to make it out of the group.

But this is a quality side we will come up against in Portugal. They will be disappointed not to be in the Champions League again this season and will be targeting a run in the Europa League themselves.

Rangers will need to sit back, try and keep it tight and look to frustrate Porto. This isn’t a game for being on the front foot.

I don’t care if it turns into the worst game of the season, if you can pull off the gameplan and get a draw then that would represent a good night for Steven and the side.

Of course it will be difficult because they have better players than us, that is the bottom line. That doesn’t mean they will certainly win the game, though.

I keep mentioning attitude and that will be as important on Thursday as it was against Hearts, when it wasn’t right and it cost us.