Edu happy to take underdog tag

Rangers will experience contrasting expectations in their next two fixtures but Maurice Edu called for his team-mates to extend their 100% start to the season.

Walter Smith's men will be well-fancied to add to their three wins from three games in Saturday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League game at Hamilton, but will go in as underdogs for next Tuesday's Champions League clash away to Manchester United.

Betting for the Hamilton game has Rangers at 1.45 to win in 90 minutes, with hosts Hamilton 7.00 and the draw 4.33.

In contrast, Rangers are 15.00 to get the away win at Old Trafford on Tuesday, with Manchester United fancied at 1.20, with the draw 6.50.

Edu believes being labelled favourites against the Accies is a more difficult scenario than travelling to Old Trafford, where nothing is expected of Rangers.

"I think those games where you go in as the favourite are sometimes more difficult than the game where you are the underdog," Edu said today while promoting ESPN's live coverage of Saturday's match.

"There's a lot of pressure on you to go out and win that game because everyone expects that.

"People sell the other team short a little bit by making you the favourite.

"For the team that's the underdog, that adds a little bit of fuel to their fire, to turn heads, prove people wrong and show people that they deserve to be on the same pitch as the favourites.

"Every opponent's going to be different and in some ways you go about the game a little bit differently, but your mentality should be the same.

"You should go out there, leave it all out on the pitch and do everything within your power to try to win the game."

The midfielder may have been referring to Rangers' match with Manchester United, or the clash with Hamilton.

However, he insists the team's sole focus is on Saturday's match.

The 24-year-old called for Rangers to take care of domestic business before looking ahead to Old Trafford in Champions League Group C.

He added: "The Old Trafford game is obviously going to be exciting and we're all looking forward to that, but at the same time you've got to take care of business before that.

"We're not looking past this game this weekend - that's our focus right now.

"After that game we'll turn our attention to the game at Old Trafford."

The United States international is, as an underdog, keen to prove Rangers are travelling south with a purpose.

He added: "You've got to go into games believing in yourselves. If you don't then you've already lost half the battle.

"If you mention Manchester United around the world, everybody knows about the club and the history there and how good their team is.

"But we're going to go there and try and get something out of the game.

"We'll all be up for that game and aim for a positive result and come back with something."

Edu was not involved in European competition for Rangers last season due to injury and admitted playing in Europe's elite competition was one of the reasons he moved to Glasgow.

"The Champions League is the best teams around the world and you always want to be involved in competitions like that," he said.

"I knew coming to a club like Rangers I would get that opportunity.

"Unfortunately the first year we weren't involved and last year I missed out because of injury.

"Hopefully I can play my part this season and really enjoy it."

Rangers can be backed at 6.50 to progress from Group C of the UEFA Champions League 2010/11.

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