A spectacular climb to dizzy new heights

This was to be the big step-up for a Rangers side inexperienced at the rarefied level of the Champions League. The towering mountain of Lyon, a regular feature on the landscape of the knockout phases of Europe's premier tournament, stood in their way. Rangers simply scarpered up the slope and planted a huge flag in the heart of the Stade de Gerland.

The victory was fashioned in curious style. Rangers were placed under uncomfortable pressure, particularly in the first half, but they responded with the cutting edge of a sharpened knife axe.

Goals from Lee McCulloch, Daniel Cousin and DaMarcus Beasley provide the black type of the scoreline. The dizzy heights of six points from two Champions League games, however, were stormed by a team effort.

This was a performance of unimpeachable consistency. The result owed more than a little, too, to the coaching of Walter Smith and his staff.

Brahim Hemdani was superb in front of his back four and in closing down on the ever dangerous Juninho. Beasley was brought in to replace Steven Whittaker to great effect. He scored one and made two goals.

Cousin, replacing the injured Jean-Claude Darcheville, has reportedly had complaints about his lack of involvement at Ibrox. He made his case for inclusion forcibly through his actions last night.

The others were merely superb, though Allan McGregor might wonder why he did not have to be conspicuously heroic in the Rangers goal. He fielded most of Lyon's efforts with comfort, even allowing the post and bar to take the strain of Juninho's best two shots. He was finally forced into a great save just seven minutes from time.

The climb started with exertion but it ended with Rangers in a comfort zone that could never have been envisaged.

The first ridge of Mont Lyon was climbed after 45 breathless minutes. If Rangers reached their first target by expending a surfeit of sweat they also picked up the welcome excess baggage of a goal. It was gained from a set piece but owed much to expeditionary force that is Alan Hutton.

The Rangers full-back had already latched on to a clever Beasley pass to sprint clear and deliver a superb cross that only good work by Anthony Reveillere rendered harmless. McCulloch had narrowly missed meeting that delivery but he had no such trouble after 23 minutes.

Again Hutton took the lead, his run forcing Fabio Grosso, the Italian World cup winner, to concede a corner. This time the ball from Beasley was met with a vicious Lanarkshire kiss from McCulloch.

The ball screamed, the net hissed.

If Rangers seemed slightly surprised to be in such an advanced position, Lyon were suitably stung. Three Juninho free-kicks caused alarm. Smith had preached the virtues of patience and care on the edge of the box, emphasising the threat posed by the Brazilian from areas normally only in range of siege guns.

A first Juninho sighter, the consequence of a careless hand ball from Kevin Thomson, whizzed over McGregor's bar.

A second, from a clumsy challenge by Hutton, was punched back into the danger area by the Rangers goalkeeper.

The third, though, almost provided the French side with an equaliser. Juninho's race towards the box was halted by David Weir, who received a caution for a challenge that produced a dive from the Brazilian. The midfielder sprang up to hammer a shot against a bar that rattled for most of the half-time break.

This was the most vexing period for a Rangers side who were predictably put under pressure, particularly in the wide areas, but who defended with a little luck but with great technique and commitment.

The most troublesome part of Rangers' journey to a 1-0 goal interval lead was the Lyon ploy of moving Sidney Govou in from the right, forcing Sasa Papac to come off the touchline. This created room for Reveillere on the overlap but the full-back's crosses were intercepted by a blue shirt before they could cause substantial damage.

Ironically, the best cross of the night from Lyon came from the other flank when Grosso escaped Hutton's clutches but his cross was so fast it has been installed as ante-post favourite for the Ayr Gold Cup.

The movement of Milan Baros and Govou and the languid promptings from Karim Benzema ensured Rangers were never in danger of drifting into a placid slumber on the most balmy of nights. But Lyon did not force McGregor to make a save of consequence.

Camp two was reached within three minutes of the consumption of the survival rations of a half-time orange. Beasley and Hutton combined slickly on the right and the ball was fed into Cousin. The striker quickly turned Anderson and shot home.

If this was impressive, what followed was spectacular. Cousin turned on the half- way line and spotted Beasley sprinting through the middle. His ball was launched straight into the midfielder's path and the American provided the finish the pass deserved.

Lyon came back and Juninho rattled a post. There were other moments of anxiety. But the summit had been reached.

Lyon 0, Rangers 3. The Rangers fans exercised their throats. They could be forgiven for rubbing their eyes.