Rangers will have to settle for a place in the UEFA Cup this season alongside Old Firm rivals Celtic after a night of misery at Ibrox. Manager Walter Smith invested £15 million in summer imports in the hope of finally making an impact in the Champions' League.

But new money has not vanquished old failings and it was Gothenburg who clinched a place in the lucrative competition.

Rangers were given a glimmer of hope in the 24th minute when Charlie Miller opened the scoring.

But the Swedish champions, 3-0 ahead from the first leg, killed the game off in the 49th minute when Robert Andersson stole in for the equaliser.

Smith didn't call on inspirational captain Brian Laudrup, laid low since the opening league game of the season with chickenpox, until the 55th minute - but the game was all but over at that stage.

Smith decided to shake things up despite the 5-1 thrashing of Dundee United on Saturday. Ally McCoist replaced Gordon Durie as five-goal hero Marco Negri's partner.

Negri, so prolific at the weekend, was anonymous tonight, as he was in the first leg.

Rangers' faces were almost as red as the shirts they were forced to wear after only a couple of minutes.

Peter Eriksson was able to make space down the left and whipped in a shot that was taken with some difficult by goalkeeper Andy Goram.

Then Stefan Pettersson was able to race forward, only to scuff a 30yard shot wide of the post.

Miller came close to opening the scoring after 19 minutes when he latched onto a superb cross field ball from Stalle Stensaas. However, his shot hit the side netting.

Miller's luck was in five minutes later, however, to send the Ibrox supporters ecstatic.

Jonas Thern floated in a cross from the left, and Ian Ferguson cleverly headed the ball into Miller's path. He took two steps forward, before rifling a shot beyond keeper Thomas Ravelli.

Gothenburg are nothing if not resilient and lulled the crowd into silence four minutes after the break.

Goram was late coming for a corner, and the ball eventually broke to Robert Andersson, who toe-poked the ball home.

Laudrup's appearance brought fresh urgency to Rangers' game, but their luck was right out.

Paul Gascoigne sent a header wide of the post, and then Ravelli beat away a stinging shot from Stensaas.

Gascoigne was again off target with another effort, as Rangers' heads began to drop.