RANGERS may well have recorded the victory they were looking for in the first leg of their Europa League play-off against Ufa at Ibrox last night and might also have avoided conceding a costly away goal in the process.
Yet, the margin of their victory over their Russian rivals was nowhere near as emphatic as they had hoped it would be and their place in the group stages of the competition is far from assured as a result.
A close-range Connor Goldson strike four minutes before half-time ensured that Steven Gerrard and his players will kick off the rematch next Thursday evening with a slender advantage to protect.
They will, though, need to produce a far more accomplished performance in the Neftyanik Stadium, not least in the final third, if they are to progress further in this competition.
Rangers had been expected by many to swat aside little-known opponents who are competing in Europe for the first time in their short history this season after their impressive triumph over Maribor in the last round.
The Glasgow club were hardly troubled defensively last night, but it will, as a seasoned continental campaigner like Gerrard will be well aware, be a different story in six days' time.
Ufa certainly showed enough in the course of the 90 minutes to suggest they are capable of dashing their hopes.
The away team were robust and well-organised throughout. Their manager Sergey Tomarov set them up in a 4-4-2 formation with Ivan Paurevic and Sylvester Igboun up front and it worked well for them. They will fancy their chances of going through.
Rangers started brightly last night. Daniel Candeias forced Ufa keeper Alexander Belenov to tip the ball over in just the second minute with a long-range attempt. Alfredo Morelos should have put his team in front nine minutes after that when he got on the end of a long Goldson ball upfield. His shot, though, was poorly struck and easily saved.
But after that the home team faded. James Tavernier fired a free-kick straight at Belenov and Morelos also headed a dipping set-piece delivery from his captain at the same player not long afterwards. Their attacking endeavours left much to be desired.
Rangers dominated possession in the first-half. But they failed to get in behind opponents who sat deep and sought to grab a goal on the counter attack. Ryan Kent, the Liverpool loanee, couldn’t be faulted for effort out wide. However, his bursts down the left flank failed to create any openings. None of his team mates fared any better.
Rangers finally broke the deadlock at corner in the 41st minute. Ryan Kent curled the ball into the penalty area, Morelos rose and nodded towards goal and Belenov show good reactions to palm it clear. However, Goldson pounced and casually prodded into the net.
Ufa responded impressively to falling behind. They went straight upfield and created two scoring opportunities. Allan McGregor, who had not been tested before that point, did well to deny Dmitry Zhivoglyadov with his legs. But Rangers were lucky that Paurevic volleyed over the crossbar shortly after that.
Morelos, as he is prone to do, got involved in an unnecessary tussle with Paurevic shortly after that. Daniel Stefanski, the referee, took him aside and urged him to calm himself down. The little forward must work harder to curb his fiery temper and stop getting himself involved in unnecessary confrontations. Another official may not have been so understanding in future.
Rangers started the game with Kyle Lafferty, the Northern Ireland striker who had returned to Ibrox on Wednesday after a six year exile, on the substitutes’ bench. But his presence inside the stadium buoyed supporters all the same. He was cheered and applauded as he warmed up on the touchline during the first-half.
Rangers needed a lift as the second-half wore on and he certainly provided it. When Lafferty replaced Candeias in the 69th minute it brought the 49,338-strong crowd to their feet. But he was booked for a clumsy challenge on Veroljub Salatic after just four minutes and failed to get on the scoresheet.
Glenn Middleton took over from Kent with 13 minutes remaining and almost immediately went down in the Ufa penalty box following a challenge by Ionuc Nedelcharu. But Stefanski waved away Rangers appeals for a spot kick.
Lee Wallace, the former Rangers captain who has spent almost a year out with a persistent groin injury, was included on the bench.
Wallace was fined by Rangers for his part in a dressing room bust-up after the Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to – disciplinary action he has appealed against – but Gerrard has insisted the left back is still in his plans and his involvement last night would suggest that he is.
Whether the Glasgow club have a future in Europe this season will be decided in Russia next Thursday evening and is far from certain
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