Daniel Cousin and Steven Davis scored as Rangers shocked Werder Bremen 2-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Cup last-16 clash at Ibrox.

Bremen goalkeeper Tim Wiese made two howling mistakes to concede the goals which came in a three minute period either side of half-time.

The Scots took the lead when Cousin's speculative 35 yard shot bounced off Wiese's hands, as he attempted to palm the ball away, and into the back of the net.

Cousin was again involved in the second with a low cross from the right that Wiese opted to parry and he succeeded only in sending the ball straight into the path of Davis who tapped home from six yards out.

The Gers started brightly with Charlie Adam almost setting Ibrox alight within two minutes of kick-off as a weak clearance fell kindly for him and the 22-year-old forced a brilliant save from Wiese with a well struck, left-footed volley.

Markus Rosenberg produced Bremen's only real chance of the half, being allowed far too much time and space and unleashing a bullet from 30 yards out but Allan McGregor proved himself equal to the task and flew across his goal to turn the ball behind for a corner.

Adam had another couple of chances to put Rangers ahead as the Bremen back four gave away a number of dangerous free-kicks.

The Scot's first free-kick troubled Wiese after taking a slight deflection off the wall on the way through and had the loitering Barry Ferguson managed to get any kind of a touch on the ball at all, Rangers would have undoubtedly had the lead.

Less than 10 minutes later, Adam had a second chance to trouble Wiese, sending the German backtracking frantically as he fired his free-kick just over the crossbar.

After the flurry of goals, Rangers continued to batter the Bremen defence as Ferguson first set up Davis and then almost scored himself after combining brilliantly with Adam on the right wing.

Bremen were made to wait until the 75th minute before enjoying their only real chance of the second half with Daniel Jensen drawing a great save from McGregor as he unleashed a bullet from 25 yards out.

The hosts should really have had a third four minutes from time as Naldo somehow managed to get back, after a looping headed backpass went astray, and produce a goal-saving, last-ditch tackle on substitute Lee McCulloch in front of an open goal.

Rangers had appeals for a late penalty denied when Naldo shoved McCulloch in the back before getting a foot to the ball so the SPL leaders to be content with a 2-0 lead heading into the second leg in a week's time.

Pippa Davis / Eurosport