STEVEN GERRARD reckons mentality will be key for Rangers as they look to secure their place in the Europa League second round next week.

The Light Blues were 2-0 winners over Macedonian minnows FK Shkupi last night thanks to a first half strike from Jamie Murphy and late James Tavernier penalty.

Rangers passed up a series of chance to put the tie to bed and now head to Skopje on Tuesday with work still to be done to ensure they progress.

Gerrard said: “I think we are satisfied with the result and parts of the performance. But I don’t think it’s any better than satisfactory.

“There is still a lot of work to do and we are still in a game. We have to make sure we perform when we go out there.

“But for the first competitive game, we have kept a clean sheet and won. I thought we should have won it more comfortably if we were a bit sharper in front of goal. We take 2-0 but I’m slightly disappointed we didn’t win it more comfortably.

“Mentality and attitude are going to be key, the players have to realise that. The tie is not over and we are going to have to go there and perform very well. I’m sure they still fancy their chances.

“We have sort of put ourselves in this position for work still to be done. There were chances out there to put the tie to bed, three, four or five.

“We maybe should have had one penalty. But it’s the first game and we’re still feeling our way in. I felt there was a bit of anxiety in the first half but as soon as we started relaxing and making passes we looked like a team.

“You could feel the relief in the stadium and obviously it’s nice to get the second goal. But I felt as if we should have had the game done by that time.”

Rangers know all to well what can happen in the early European rounds after their shock exit at the hands of Progres Niederkorn 12 months ago.

That would have been in the minds of the Ibrox crowd as the clocked ticked on but Gerrard reckons it wasn’t a factor for the majority of his new-look side as they secured a deserved win.

He said: “Maybe, maybe with some of the players who were here last year but I don't think it would have been a concern for any of the new players because they never experienced it.

“But it was the first time some of them have played in front of a full house here with that atmosphere. The place was absolutely jumping.

“Players are going to take time to settle in and feel themselves.

“I thought the fans were terrific and stuck with the team throughout.

“There was a little bit of tension just before the second goal came which is fair enough because when you see chance after chance after chance (go by) then they will probably have gone back to last year in their thoughts and you can't blame them for that.

“But having seen what I've seen tonight I'm very confident we can go there, score goals and get the right result.”