The Rangers manager, Walter Smith, admitted that a cheap goal conceded two minutes from the end of last night’s Champions League qualifier in Romania could have expensive consequences for his side. To add to his woes there were ugly scenes when Rangers fans became involved in an incident with stewards at half-time.

A late equaliser by Marius Onofras, after Nacho Novo had needlessly given up possession, denied Rangers the defeat of Unirea Urziceni that would have transformed their hopes in group G. The 1-1 draw was a sore one for Smith to take, not just because Lee McCulloch had put Rangers in front just a few minutes earlier, but because the Scottish champions had turned in a bright performance, certainly better than the one at Ibrox two weeks earlier, when the Romanians shocked them with a 4-1 victory.

A disappointed Smith did not talk about the incident involving Rangers fans afterwards but spoke only about the game. “I felt we played very well,” Smith said. “After getting the lead, to give it up so late in the game was really disappointing. After getting ourselves back into it, in terms of qualification, we have made it even more difficult by giving away a bad goal in the last few minutes. We should have kept the ball, but we didn’t do so. If you are winning 1-0 with two minutes to go, you should make it more awkward for the opposition.”

A big plus point for Rangers was the performance at the back of 17-year-old Danny Wilson, making his European debut. Alongside 39-year-old David Weir, he was an assured presence, and didn’t deserve the late disappointment. “We are pleased at the way he has handled the situation since he came into the team,” Smith said. “It is only his third game, and for a boy of 17, it speaks volumes for him that he has handled it so well.”

The same cannot be said of some Rangers supporters who were seen throwing seats and fighting with stewards at half-time. Martin Bain, the club’s chief executive, was not condoning their behaviour, but he issued a statement complaining that there had not been enough turnstiles open. After the scenes at the 2008 Uefa Cup final, it was the last thing Rangers needed. If Uefa takes a dim view of the incident, a bad night for the club may have longer-lasting consequences.

The president of the Rangers Supporters Assembly, Andy Kerr, said the trouble at the match was a “minor incident”. “There was a bit of pressure at the front. Spray was used, which was used before the start of the match, and I think people reacted to that. I wouldn’t say the Rangers fans did anything wrong. The organisation was very poor.”

Rangers are still bottom of group G, with just two points from their four matches, three fewer than second-placed Unirea. With a home match against Stuttgart still to come, followed by a trip to Seville, the odds are heavily against qualification. A place in the Europa League is their best bet, although Smith isn’t giving up yet.

“The pressure is on us now to win both our remaining games,” he said. “I don’t think there is any other way forward for us. That’s what makes it so disappointing.”