Goram believes the loyalty his old boss Walter Smith commands gives Rangers hope of continuing to defy the odds - even if the manager no longer has the money to buy the best.

The European hopes of Smith's new generation of stars were written off by most when they were pitted against the French and German champions and arguably the best team in the world.

But victories over Stuttgart and Lyon and a point against Barcelona have given them a platform to reach the last 16.

And that is all down to the respect that Smith continues to earn from his players in his second spell in the Ibrox hotseat, according to Goram.

"Walter Smith is a guy you want to play for," the former Scotland keeper said.

"There are no ifs and buts, if Walter asks you to do something you will do it and not ask a question.

"If he says 'go and run through that wall' you will do it - and then ask the question.

"He has got respect. It's the same with Alex McLeish at Scotland and Gordon Strachan at Celtic.

"If you don't respect your manager at any job you do at any level, then you are not going to try 100%.

"If you respect the manager, then you are halfway there."

Rangers' European form has sparked memories of the year Rangers came within a whisker of the Champions League final.

Goram was in goal as Walter Smith's men almost created a major shock before being pipped to the 1993 final by Marseille.

But he claims comparisons with an era when transfer money was in plentiful supply are unfair on a side that Smith has only just put together since taking over in January.

The former Scotland goalkeeper said: "It's difficult, we had a good side at that time and we didn't win the European Cup. We nearly got there.

"The expectations at Rangers now are probably a wee bit too high. There are no Laudrups and Gascoignes but, fair play to them, they keep on getting results.

"Scottish football is on the up, same with Celtic, they keep on getting results.

"It's a fantastic time for Scottish football in general. But you can't compare the days of the 90s to the Rangers team now.

"I think it's unfair on the players at the moment, but they are flying the flag for us."