What a terrific week for our Scottish clubs in Europe. A phrase that unfortunately has not been uttered for quite a while in these parts as bar the odd exception it’s really only Celtic that have ploughed a lone furrow for Scotland overseas in the past few seasons. They picked up a late win against a stuffy Rosenberg side to get their Europa League campaign off to flying start but it was arguably their greatest rivals from the other side of the city who captured all the headlines.

Rangers travelled to Spain to face a Villarreal side that finished fifth in arguably the best league in the world, La Liga. Not many would have given them any chance at all of picking up a positive result and for the first 45 minutes that looked a good call. Losing an early goal inside a minute seemed to spook Rangers and they spent the rest of the half in a daze watching and admiring the Spaniards knocking the ball about under no pressure whatsoever. In truth it was eerily like the game at Parkhead a few weeks back when Rangers paid their opponents Celtic far too much respect. Much like that game they were lucky to still be in the game only a goal down in Spain and looked horribly out of their depth.

The second half, however, was a completely different story as Rangers finally looked as if they believed they could get a result. I have no doubt that Steven Gerrard had some strong words at the break to his players to try and encourage them to at least have a go at Villarreal. There is nothing worse as a player to come off the park at the end of a game having lost knowing you could have given more, or a lack of belief cost you points. All of a sudden Rangers started to show some bravery to get on the ball and get crosses in. With virtually their first attack Scott Arfield gets on the end of a cross to put Rangers level. In the end Rangers could have won the game but also came perilously close to losing it. However, they showed that if they play with belief and on the front foot they can get results against good teams.

That made it nine games unbeaten in Europe and that is a fantastic record for any Scottish club. They have showed at times with 10 men and even nine men in that run that the spirit and togetherness that Gerrard has quickly garnered is going to be a huge asset. A huge part of the bond that has created has been the much-maligned Andy Halliday.

I don’t think when Steven Gerrard walked into Ibrox in a blaze of glory that any Rangers fan in the land would have envisaged Halliday even being part of his new-look squad, never mind a key player in the team. There was more chance of the fans of opposing sides mockingly singing his name than there was the Rangers fans cheering his. He looked like a sitting duck and his time at his beloved Rangers was up. I am sure that if Gerrard has listened to the fans or people inside the club that he would have punted him out the door without a second thought. But refreshingly he did give everyone a clean slate and judged him purely on what he saw and not on what he had heard. That isn’t always the case as people are all too keen to stick the knife in.

When I was on trial at Dunfermline back in 2007, Stephen Kenny, much like Gerrard, was new to the Scottish game. He was told by a few people inside the club during that trial not to sign me as I had a bad reputation and was a troublemaker. It was totally wrong and grossly unfair. That unfortunately goes on a lot in Scottish football as it’s such a small place. Those whispers can ruin a player. Stephen decided to ignore that and judge me solely on what he saw on and off the park.

Gerrard has done the same in a different way with Halliday’s ability being questioned and has been rewarded by the player putting in some very good performances for Rangers so far in his reign. The mental strength that Andy has shown has to be commended and he is now showing that he is a far better player than most, myself included, gave him credit for. His attitude has already been praised countless times by the manager and he has cemented his place as a key member of the Rangers squad.

Rangers find themselves in a very difficult Europa League group which most said would be beyond them in terms of qualification. They have negotiated the hardest game in Villarreal by picking up a precious point. If they can continue to show the belief they had in the second half in Spain, maybe, along with Celtic, we can have two teams in Europe for the first time in a long time after Christmas.

And another thing

It looks like time has finally ran out for Neil McCann at Dundee. Another crushing home defeat by Hibs made it six defeats from six in the league. There looks to be no way back now and if he lasts until this weekend coming, Hamilton Accies could drive in the final nail.