Rangers handed 'hero to zero' warning as Kevin Thomson felt furious Walter Smith's wrath after Champions League failure

Kevin Thomson was treated to a hot blast from the Walter Smith hairdryer as Rangers’ Uefa Cup saints became Champions League sinners all in the space of 12 weeks.

And he’s warning Gio van Bronckhorst’s current team it will be no breeze backing up their Seville exploits, even with a Europa League safety net already in place.

Furious Smith let rip after the team he'd guided all the way to Manchester in May 2008 fell at the first hurdle the following season as they kicked off their Champions League qualifying bid against Lithuanians FBK Kauas.

After a goalless first leg in Glasgow, Thomson thought he’d done enough in the return showdown as he fired the Light Blues in front.

But the over casual Ibrox outfit switched off and were hit with a pair of sucker punches that dumped them out of Europe altogether before their domestic season had even got up and running.

Thomo had no hiding place as the late, great Smith bared his teeth after the final whistle.

But at least there won’t be the same level of jeopardy facing van Bronckhorst’s team.

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Their surge up the Uefa co-efficient table means they’re guaranteed to be playing group stage action all the way to Christmas, and will be seeded in pot 1 for the