The Italians became the seventh European team to fail to find the back of the net at Ibrox this season when they were held to a goalless draw in the semi-final first leg in Glasgow tonight.

Panathinaikos, Werder Bremen and Sporting Lisbon were among the sides that failed to seize the initiative on their travels in earlier rounds of the tournament and paid the price on home soil.

Smith is now hoping history will repeat itself in Florence next week, with 90 minutes of football standing between Rangers and a meeting with Bayern Munich or Zenit St Petersburg at Eastlands on May 14.

"We have been drawn at home first in every tie that we've had this season both in the Champions League and UEFA Cup," Smith said.

"If you don't concede the away goal, you're always in with a chance when you go away from home. Not conceding the away goal gives us that opportunity.

"We can take a bit of confidence from the away games that we've played this season. In the Champions League we have managed to score away from home against Stuttgart and Lyon, and we have scored away from home in Lisbon and Panathinaikos [in the UEFA Cup].

"I don't think any of these places are places teams would relish going having to win a game.

"But we have managed to go and score there so, as the season has gone on, we have gained a confidence in the away games and we take that confidence to Florence next week."

Smith freely admits that this season's enduring European run has taken him by surprise but believes Rangers have now proven themselves as worthy continental contenders.

"You gain a confidence in terms of playing in the European games," he said.

"I felt this season was going to be bit early for us European-wise but I think we are a difficult team to play against and certainly we are a difficult team to score against."

Asked who the favourites were to progress on the basis of the first result, Smith said: "In home games, especially when you have the second game at your own ground, you would be favoured and fancy yourself to win.

"But that's been the case with all the teams we've played this season. Hopefully, if we do as well as we have done in the other games, we can get the goal required to take us through."

An Adrian Mutu free-kick from distance proved to be Fiorentina's best chance of the night and Smith was keen to pay tribute to the efforts of David Weir, who wore the captain's armband in the absence of the suspended Barry Ferguson.

The veteran defender will celebrate his 38th birthday in a fortnight and the Rangers boss, making reference to the Gers' gruelling fixture list, joked: "It will be a busy two weeks - will he reach it?

"When we got him about 16 months ago, I never expected in my wildest dreams that he would play the number of games that he has done.

"Credit to him for that. He is a fantastic professional and a good guy to boot. When his birthday comes, he will maybe deserve a wee bit of a rest."

Smith also felt a vocal Ibrox crowd played a crucial role in keeping the tie alive.

He said: "They played a huge part for us in what was always going to be an awkward game and they stuck with the team.

"Our team may lack a lot of things but I think the crowd appreciates that they play for the jersey. They want to do well and they work really hard to try to cover for whatever deficiencies we have."

Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli is well aware of Rangers' ability to strike the killer blow away from home in this tournament but insisted: "There is always a first time."

However, he admits the return leg in Italy could be another closely-fought encounter.

He said: "Obviously we will try to play for the result next Thursday. The match is still open and could end up in penalties but I think both teams have their chances."