STEW COOKS UP A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

GREG STEWART says Rangers are confident they can batter Braga and progress further in the Europa League.

Steven Gerrard’s (below) troops were tucking into their Christmas Dinner at the Hummel Training Centre when they were paired in the draw with the Portuguese in the last 32 of the competition.

Stewart admitted some of his colleagues were hoping for a glamour clash against the likes of Inter Milan or Manchester United, but is clear Braga remain a tough test.

Stewart said: “I think it’s an excellent draw for us. It’s a game we feel we can definitely win over two legs.

“We played against probably a Portuguese Champions League team in Porto, so we’ll be feeling confident. I thought it was a good draw and one that we will look forward to.

“It was a mixed bag for the boys as some of them wanted the big hitters like the Inter Milans and Manchester Uniteds.

“We’ve done well in Europe this season and it’s another game that we’ll look forward to and have confidence that we can get through.

“Every game is going to be tough. No matter who you play, it is going to be difficult. And this will be.

“You know Braga are going to be a good team. They won their group and they will be a good side, we know that.

“But, as I said, we’ve performed really well in Europe. We’ll take confidence from facing a lot of good teams.”

Porto’s placing of second, seven places above Braga in the Portuguese league, strengthens a viewpoint amongst fans that Rangers can get through.

But Stewart warned: “You can look at the draw as if it’s going to be easier, but that’s not the case. I suppose they [Manchester United] are not going as well as they were years ago. You could say that them and Arsenal are struggling in the league a little bit and Rangers could get the glamour ties and knock them out, but it’s difficult no matter who you get.

“We’ll look forward to the matches, but there are a lot of tough ones beforehand, so we’ll put it to the back of our heads.

“It’s a long way away, although it was exciting watching the draw. We had our Christmas dinner and watched it. We had turkey and trimmings.”