Andrew Dickson reports from the Weserstadion

RANGERS are in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup after a phenomenal defensive performance limited Werder Bremen to a 1-0 win over them in Germany.

Having beaten them by two goals last week, this result means the Light Blues are in the last eight of a European competition for the first time in 15 years.

Diego's second-half strike gave the hosts a lead but an unbelievable goalkeeping display by Allan McGregor sent Gers through.

He single-handedly kept Bremen out with his best showing in a Rangers shirt and will rightly be hailed a hero for his efforts against the Bundesliga outfit.

Werder simply battered Rangers for the entire match but McGregor and his defence were outstanding.

As a consequence, Walter Smith's men will be in the hat for the next round draw when it is made in Nyon tomorrow.

Manager Smith made one alteration to the side which beat Bremen 2-0 last week and it was an enforced one.

With Daniel Cousin sidelined by the broken jaw he sustained in that match, Nacho Novo came in to play as a lone striker.

By contrast, home coach Thomas Schaaf fielded a much-changed team to the one which appeared at Ibrox.

Jurica Vranjes, Fritz Clemens, Petri Pasanen and Frank Baumann all dropped out, with Sebastian Boenisch, Patrick Owomoyela, Hugo Almeida and Tim Borowski coming in.

Bremen signalled their intent just 90 seconds in, with Daniel Jensen drilling across goal and wide from Diego's corner.

It then took a last-gasp tackle by David Weir to stop Markus Rosenberg before Per Mertesacker headed another Diego centre past the post.

Confusion between Barry Ferguson and Brahim Hemdani allowed Boenisch the chance to shoot too as the hosts dominated but he drilled over.

Rangers needed to get a grip of the game but the Germans kept pouring forward, with Almeida and Naldo failing to take their opportunities.

Werder turned the screw further, with Rosenberg bringing out a good save from McGregor and Borowski lobbing a yard too high.

Although Almeida hooked the ball well over and Rosenberg glanced past, it was clear Gers were living a charmed life at the back

They needed McGregor to bail them out again when he produced a fantastic stop from Jensen but with three quarters of the game to go, the outlook seemed bleak.

Owomoyela had a go from distance but McGregor was equal to it and when the keeper went up with Almeida seconds later, the free kick he got provided brief respite.

Suddenly, out of nothing, Gers broke forward and Kirk Broadfoot's wonderful pass set up Novo.

He was in on goal but with Naldo steaming in behind him, the Spaniard hurried his shot and Tim Wiese saved before the rebound was blocked.

Getting upfield at least gave Rangers confidence and in turn, the wave of attacks from the hosts began to recede a little.

The visitors came forward too but Novo only succeeded in getting between Charlie Adam's shot and the goal to block the effort.

Back came Bremen with half-time approaching but McGregor stood firm to deny Naldo and it was goalless at the break.

Schaaf's team continued in much the same vein after the restart, with Owomoyela and Hunt both trying their luck but missing the target.

McGregor also tipped Jensen's rising drive over and Mertesacker nodded Hunt's resulting corner past.

Boenisch then shot wide and McGregor's superb reactions kept Jensen out once more but Rangers couldn't keep hanging on the way they were.

Sure enough, Bremen finally made the breakthrough they deserved after 57 minutes when Diego collected on the edge of the box and fired low through a ruck of bodies to give his side the lead.

Rangers were down but still in control of the tie and they almost levelled straight away with their best chance of the night.

The excellent Steven Davis surged clear on the right and after playing a one-two with Broadfoot, a better connection would surely have made 1-1.

The game was starting to open up a lot more and each side began making slack passes but nobody could make it count.

As time ticked on, that suited Gers far more and Werder knew they had to keep pressing to at least force extra-time.

But while Naldo and Mertesacker kept getting chances to head home from corners, neither of them looked remotely capable of doing it.

Diego pulled wide too and it seemed as though Gers had done enough to hang on to a place in the last eight.

But hearts were in mouths as sub Boubacar Sanogo appeared to turn in Rosenberg's pass, only for McGregor to miraculously tip on to the bar before Cuellar cleared.

It was a stunning save and another followed when the keeper saw Naldo's shot late then pawed it behind.

Like every other one he came up with, they proved so crucial and when referee Martin Hansson finally blew for full-time, his hero status was truly confirmed.

RANGERS: McGregor, Broadfoot, Weir, Cuellar, Papac, Davis, Hemdani, Dailly, Ferguson, Adam (Whittaker 57), Novo (McCulloch 77).

Subs not used: Alexander, Buffel, Thomson, Boyd, Naismith.

WERDER BREMEN: Wiese, Boenisch, Naldo, Mertesacker, Owomoyela (Harnik 77), Jensen, Borowski, Hunt, Diego, Rosenberg, Almeida (Sanogo 65).

Subs not used: Vander, Vranjes, Ozil, Tosic.

Referee: Martin Hansson (Sweden).