Bad to worse for Derek McInnes and Rangers as Conference League beckons and next opponent confirmed
Ibrox agitated as Polish side knock Rangers out of Europa League
It continues to go from bad to worse for Derek McInnes, who remains in desperate need of his first win as Rangers manager.
The six successive wins he racked up at the start of last season with Hearts must feel like a long time ago. The hosts started brightly before losing their way in front of increasingly agitated home supporters.
Patience is already running out after four games under new management. Just over 41,000 watched Rangers exit Europa League qualifying following the 1-1 draw with Jagiellonia Bialystok. There will likely be even more empty seats at the home leg of a Conference League play-off clash with Czech side Jablonec if Rangers can’t get their season up and running against St Mirren in the Premier Sports Cup this weekend.
What was a carnival ride of a match for Rangers fans ultimately left them feeling sick to the stomach. One minute they were cheering excitedly as the home team attacked with what felt like initial purpose, the next these supporters were groaning at another slack passage of play while fearing what might be coming next round the corner.
Despite their side holding a one-goal lead on the night, thanks to Lawrence Shankland’s 19th minute penalty, these fans knew as the minutes ticked down that the visitors were still just one goal away from progressing after Rangers’ 2-1 defeat in Poland last week.
The sucker punch duly arrived after 65 minutes. Anders Klynge delivered the cross that was like a dagger to Rangers’ heart. All Nic Prelec had to do was get his head on the ball at the far post, which he did.
The away players all ran to celebrate in front of their fans at that end of the ground. These fans will feel they deserved such a good view of the goal given their stout support throughout. It was the ultimate damper for the home supporters.
McInnes had mentioned "risk" on the eve of the match and there was nothing left to lose as the manager threw on everyone he could, including the lesser spotted Bogan Miovski, in a bid to grab the goal that would have forced extra time. It was all a bit untidy and ultimately fruitless. The fans who were left gave their angry verdict at the end. “Get off the park!” one screamed as the players performed a desultory lap of the park following the final whistle.
Desperate times call for extreme measures. McInnes opted for 3-5-2, meaning Daisuke Yokota and the inconsistent Djeidi Gassama were utilised as wing-backs. The last named is being given plenty of opportunity to establish himself in the Rangers team, but whether he can convince McInnes he can still flourish at Ibrox is another matter. McInnes has challenged him to succeed.
The player was a mix of the infuriating and inspired here. Yokota's influence on the other flank waned though he had a part to play in the opening goal. Celtic defender Yuki Kobayashi handled the ball while attempting to block a shot from the Japanese winger. It was unseen by most people. Having made clear their displeasure at the concession of a penalty against Hibs at the weekend following a VAR check, Rangers were the beneficiaries of a surprise intervention here.
Shankland did what he so often does. His successful conversion – he blasted the ball down the middle – would have meant the world to the boyhood Rangers fan. His first goal in a light blue jersey did not prove the winner, far from it, but it was the platform on which his side could now aim to win the tie. They patently failed to do so. Lack of quality told in the end.
The hosts lived dangerously. Jesus Imaz hit the inside of the post just 17 minutes in after Jagiellonia cut Rangers open with notable ease.
Rodrigo Conceicao was giving Rangers plenty of problems on the right. He relished the space he was given when Gassama failed to track back, one of the frustrations McInnes will have with a clearly skilled player. Thelo Aasgaard might fall into the same category as well. He is undoubtedly talented and capable of taking the game by the scruff of its neck. Not here, though. He was taken off at half time, as much for tactical reasons as anything else. Ross McCrorie came on at left back in an attempt to thwart the threat of Conceicao. The re-shaping didn’t work. If anything, Rangers were worse after the interval.
Ryan Naderi, meanwhile, has a lot to do to persuade the Rangers support that he can be a long-term answer at Ibrox. He certainly isn’t going to be a readymade replacement for the injured Youssef Chermiti. He and Shankland toiled up front. One of the loudest cheers of the night was when the forgotten Miovski was spotted warming up on the touchline; even his belated appearance could not produce an all-important goal.
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