Lindsay Herron reports from Ibrox

ALAN HUTTON came of age as a Rangers player in a stunning victory which has given the Light Blues the bet possible start to their Champions League campaign.

At the beginning of the season the young full back was rather foolishly sent off for two avoidable yellow cards in the qualifier with FK Zeta.

However, Hutton, who was a hero for Scotland in Paris a week ago, was the catalyst for a wonderful victory in front of a packed Ibrox.

He set up a great equaliser, finished with superb style by Charlie Adam, and then won a penalty following more magnificent pressure which was expertly finished by Jean-Claude Darcheville.

The Light Blues had fallen behind to Suttgart 10 minutes into the second half of an engrossing contest.

Mario Gomez struck with the slightest of touches after the Rangers defence failed to clear Sami Khedira's ball into the box.

The goal had come while skipper Barry Ferguson was off the field receiving treatment for a head injury and it could have stopped Gers in their tracks but they responded in the best possible fashion

The Light Blues drew level with a fantastic Charlie Adam goal in 62 minutes.

It was all created by a sensational burst forward by Hutton who skipped past four German defenders before releasing Adam on the left.

The young midfielder skipped inside Roberto Osorio and then hammered a brilliant right foot shot into the right corner.

But the drama was not over. Hutton won a penalty when he was brutally challanged by skipper Fernando Meira and Jean-Claude Darcheville slammed home the spotkick

Rangers knew it would be a tough night and they had some pressure to deal with in the early moments.

Roberto Hilbert forced a corner off Carlos Cuellar after two minutes. Rangers cleared that but from the resulting throw in full back Arthur Boka fired a left foot shot just wide.

Right back Ricardo Osorio then caused a problem in eight minutes when he cut inside Sasa Papac but his left foot shot was easily held by Allan McGregor.

Then a minute later Pavel Pardo played dangerman Gomez through - even if Germany's Player of the Year looked offside - and fortunately for Rangers he pulled his shot wide.

Rangers, though, were buoyed when Adam intercepted Pardo's pass and threaded a great ball through to Darcheville who burst forward and hammered a low shot which Raphael Schaefer could only push away and Meira cleared the danger.

And gradually they began to impose themselves on the game.

Stevie Whittaker won a free kick on the right hand side when he was crudely fouled by Boka. Adam whipped in a terrific dead ball but no-one could get a touch.

Then in 22 minutes the young midfielder almost caught out Schaefer with a swerving long range effort which flew just over the top.

There was more encouragment for Rangers in 30 minutes when Adam was agonisingly close to picking out Ferguson in 30 minutes.

And then three minutes later Darcheville had the Rangers fans on their feet when he held off Osorio and bust from the halfway line to drive a low shot which Shaefer did well to block.

It was still wide open in the early stages in the early stages of the second half and Stuttgart had three efforts from long range inside the first seven minutes but none troubled McGregor.

The game turned when Gomez after Khedira's ball into the box but Adam's stunning equaliser had Ibrox rocking.

Then The Rocket sealed a wonderful win from the spot after Hutton as sent sprawling by Meira.