Rangers set a new record unbeaten run in Europe but were ultimately left frustrated as Spartak Moscow dug in for a 0-0 Europa League draw.
The Group G stalemate was the 11th game Steven Gerrard's side had managed without loss in continental action this term - beating the previous benchmark for a single season set by Smith's squad as they came within a whisker of reaching the inaugural Champions League final 25 years ago.
But the Ibrox boss will feel his team should have created more than a list of half-chances after dominating the crisis-hit Russians.
Elsewhere in Group G, Villarreal hammered Rapid Vienna 5-0.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek fired a hat-trick for his first Chelsea goals in 30 months to seal the Blues' 3-1 win over BATE Borisov at Stamford Bridge.
Vidi won the group's other game, beating PAOK Salonika 2-0.
Danny Welbeck scored the only goal of the game as Arsenal beat Sporting Lisbon to extend their winning streak to 11 games.
After a largely forgettable opening half, the Gunners gradually improved and took control of Group E with a 1-0 victory at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.
Welbeck had already seen a header chalked off for a foul but he was on hand to steer home in the 77th minute to settle the contest in favour of Unai Emery's side.
Sevilla thumped Akhisar 6-0 to go top of Group J on goal difference.
Roque Mesa, Pablo Sarabia, Milan Lukac, Luis Muriel, Quincy Promes and Gabriel Mercado all found the net as the Spanish side moved to six points.
Standard Liege and Krasnador are also on six points after the Belgian side's 2-1 win with it all to play for at the halfway stage.
Real Betis claimed top spot of Group F at the halfway stage with a 2-1 win at AC Milan.
The Spanish team prevailed thanks to goals either side of half-time from Toni Sanabria and Giovani Lo Celso, with Milan, who had Samu Castillejo sent off late on, getting one back from Patrick Cutrone.
FC Zurich came from behind to beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 and maintain their 100 per cent record in Group A.
AEK Larnaca and Ludogrets drew the group's other game 1-1.
Salzburg and Leipzig are in a strong position in Group B. The Austrian side trounced Rosenborg 3-0 while Leipzig ran out 2-0 winners over Celtic.
Zenit St Petersburg scored an 85th-minute winner to beat Bordeaux and go top of Group C, ahead of Slavia Prague, who were 1-0 winners at FC Copenhagen.
Dinamo Zagreb's 2-1 win at Spartak Trnava preserved their 100 per cent record in Group D, with Anderlecht and Fenerbahce drawing 2-2 in the other game.
Frankfurt took control of Group H with a 2-0 win over Apollon Limassol, sitting three points clear of Lazio.
The Serie A side beat Marseille 3-1 in France thanks to goals from Wallace, Felipe Caicedo and Adam Marusic and are a good bet to qualify for the knockout stages.
Genk were 4-2 winners of Besiktas in Group I, with Sarpsborg drawing 1-1 with Malmo while in Group K, Jablonec and Astana drew 1-1 and Dynamo Kiev won 2-1 in Rennes.
