Rangers manager Walter Smith has called for a sense of perspective over Scotland's poor results in Europe.

Rangers' shock European exit at the hands of Lithuanian side FBK Kaunas has been just one part of a disappointing overall campaign.

Motherwell followed Rangers, Queen of the South and Intertoto Cup qualifiers Hibernian in suffering defeat at the first hurdle, while Celtic already face an uphill task to qualify from their Champions League group.

Well's 2-0 defeat by Nancy at Fir Park was the 10th game Scotland's clubs have played without victory - scoring just three goals between them.

However, Smith pointed to last season's success when his team reached the UEFA Cup final, Celtic made the last 16 of the Champions League and Aberdeen reached the later knockout stages of the UEFA Cup.

And he claimed that levels of both praise and criticism in either season were probably over the top.

"Last season we were saying we had the best season for a long, long time," Smith said.

"It happens in football sometimes, that you get a run of disappointing results.

"Last season we were looking at a situation where Celtic had a terrific run in the Champions League, we managed to qualify out the sections, Aberdeen got to the knockout sections of the UEFA Cup. We were saying it was the best we have had.

"The truth is the margin of error in all these games is very tight, and sometimes people jump to the wrong conclusions.

"Last season they may have jumped to the conclusion that we play exceptionally in European football, by the same token we might not have been.

"But this season it might not be as bad as the results indicate. Last season might not have been as great as the results indicated. The truth falls in between."

Smith gave an example of those small margins in Celtic's 1-0 defeat by Villarreal on Tuesday.

He said: "If you look at Celtic's game the other night, if Samaras scores a goal with the opportunity he had, it turns the game."

Smith also rejected claims that Scottish players must work harder to achieve the technical and fitness levels of their foreign rivals.

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee called for his players to work hard to aspire to the levels of their French opponents.

But Smith admitted the damage may already have been done beforehand.

"I think they probably have to work harder when they are eight or nine and upwards," the former Scotland manager said.

"Over the time I have been involved, the Scottish players work as hard as the foreigners in our team.

"I don't think there is any doubt that at the moment, kids play less football than at any other time. They have to play more, never mind coaches or coaching.

"But nobody mentioned that last season. We have a situation in the professional game where results are tight and they can swing one way one season and the other the next season.

"Last season when we reached the UEFA Cup final, Scottish players were working hard, now they get knocked out they are not? It's not as simple as that."

Meanwhile, Smith called for his players to continue working hard when they face St Mirren at Love Street on Sunday.

Motherwell's 3-0 aggregate defeat by Nancy, who lie 14th in Ligue 1, may cause people to cast aspersions on the standard of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

But the Rangers manager knows that every SPL match is difficult.

"A lot of people outside say that because Celtic and Rangers always win, there is not much of a challenge," he said.

"But when you are here, there is.

"It's not easy playing teams four times a season. Even when you take a new season, the knowledge of your team is there for the opposition to make it very difficult for you.

"That's the case with all the games with Rangers and Sunday will be no different."