MADJID BOUGHERRA believes Rangers will be too strong for St Mirren when they replay their Scottish Cup 5th round tie on February 17.

Rangers were held to a goal-less draw at St Mirren Park today and for the second round running need another match in their attempts to progress.

Bougherra, back in the side for the first time this year after his run to the semi-finals of the African Cup of Nations, is sure they will win through.

He said: "It was great to be back in the Rangers team but obviously disappointing that we didn't win the game.

"However, we have to be confident because we are still in the Cup and I feel we will win the replay.

"Everything is good for us right now. We are in the Final of the Co-operative Insurance Cup and we are first in the table so I believe we can beat St Mirren the next time.

"Playing at Ibrox will make it a different game and I believe we will be stronger there."

Bougherra partnered teenage Danny Wilson for the first time and he feels he equipped himself well again.

He said: "It was good to play beside Danny because I feel he is going to be a very good player and I enjoyed working with him.

"We must not put pressure on him because he is only 18 but it's great that he has been getting experience in the first team."

The Algerian star was reasonably happy with his own form but he reckons it will take a couple of games to re-acclimatise to Scottish football.

He said: "We kept a clean sheet so I was happy with that but I found it a bit difficult.

"When you come from the African Cup of Nations where the weather was completely different it made it slightly awkward for me.

"I think I will need a couple of games to get back into the top level but I felt I was OK today."