Charlie Adam helped Gers claim three vital points from their Group F opener while making a point of his own to manager Walter Smith.

The midfielder paid the price for a poor performance in a qualifier against FK Zeta back in July and his involvement since then had been limited to a cameo role in the return leg in Montenegro.

He was thrown back into the top team at Ibrox tonight and made the most of the opportunity by cancelling out Mario Gomez's opener before Jean-Claude Darcheville secured the win from the penalty spot.

Ferguson was off the field with an injury to the back of his head when Stuttgart scored.

When asked about it, he told Sky Sports: "I can't really remember.

"There was never a doubt I was going to play, I got a head knock but you get on with it, these things happen.

"Tonight was about us getting off to a winning start and we're delighted with it."

Smith, meanwhile, was delighted with his side's character.

"We had to work extremely hard for it. In the early stages they (Stuttgart) showed the quality they have and we had to work extra hard," he said.

"In the second half after going a goal down, I can't speak too highly of my players. They managed to get themselves into the lead and hold onto it.

"Tonight every one of those players fought hard."

Asked about Adam's goal, moments before he was due to be withdrawn, Smith told Sky Sports: "It was one of those things that happen in football. He was injured for a couple of weeks, he's just coming back so 90 minutes was asking an awful lot of him."